Square Enix’s Foamstars to Debut as PS Plus Monthly Free Title on February 6, Featuring Innovative AI Art Integration

Square Enix’s upcoming title, Foamstars, is set to make a splash on February 6 as it debuts on PS Plus, offering a unique blend of soap-filled shooting and vibrant characters reminiscent of Nintendo’s Splatoon series. This day-one release on PS Plus aims to attract a wide player base to the 4v4 online party shooter. Players with a PlayStation Plus subscription can download and enjoy Foamstars at no additional cost throughout February. After its PS Plus run, the game will be available for purchase on the PlayStation Store for $29.99 (approximately Rs. 2,494) starting March 5. Notably, online play in this multiplayer-focused title requires an active PS Plus subscription.

Additionally, Foamstars brings an innovative touch to its visuals with AI-generated art. The game will feature in-game album covers for its soundtrack created using Midjourney, a popular generative AI-based image generation tool. Kosuke Okatani, the producer of Foamstars, highlighted the use of AI in crafting the in-game art, stating, “As developers, we’re always looking at new technologies to see how they can assist with game development.” This creative integration of AI adds a unique dimension to the gaming experience, blending traditional gameplay with cutting-edge technologies.

Okatani said that major bulk of the game, including its core gameplay elements, was hand-crafted by the developers, adding that AI-generated content in the game amounted for “0.01 percent or even less.” This confirmation follows a company-wide New Year’s letter from Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu, claiming that AI had the potential to reshape video games and the ways they are created. “We also intend to be aggressive in applying AI and other cutting-edge technologies to both our content development and our publishing functions,” the letter went on to say.

Foamstars will launch with three PvP modes — Smash the Star, Happy Bath Survival (both previously released in the Foamstar Open Beta Party), and the newly announced Rubber Duck Party. Smash the Star will require teams to foam up and take down the opposing team and get to their Star Player. Once seven players from a team have been defeated, the highest performer on that team will receive gameplay buffs and will be named the Star Player. Taking down the other team’s Star Player will result in an instant win.

Happy Bath Survival mode splits up the two teams, keeping half inside the play arena and half outside it. Those inside engage in head-on battles, while outside team members provide defensive support. The new Rubber Duck Party mode will require players to take possession of a rubber duck at the centre of the stage. Climbing aboard the duck will make it advance towards the opponent’s goal. The team that crosses the line first wins. Each of these 4v4 modes include three maps, which will be randomized during matchmaking.

Additionally, Foamstars will also include a single-player PvE mode called Missions, which will include both solo and four-player co-op experiences. The Missions mode will dole out more information on Foamstars characters, allow players to experiment with their abilities, and take on waves of enemies with friends.

Sqaure Enix confirmed that Foamstars will receive free themed seasonal updates over the span of one year. These would include cosmetics, playable characters, maps, and additional game modes. Additionally, each new season will include an optional Premium Season Pass priced at $5.99 (roughly Rs. 498).

Foamstars will arrive as a PS Plus launch title on February 6 across PS4 and PS5.