Dumpster Gang Is Pure Raccoon Chaos — Co-Op Sandbox Coming to PS5, Xbox Game Pass and Switch 2

Announced during today’s Nintendo Indie World Showcase, Dumpster Gang is a chaotic co-op sandbox from publisher Curve Games and developer Coyote House Games that puts players in the paws of mischievous raccoons. The premise is gloriously simple: you are a raccoon, the city is full of bins, and nobody’s snacks are safe. It is the kind of announcement that stands out in a showcase full of earnest adventures, because it leans fully into silliness while still promising a proper game underneath the jokes.

At its heart, Dumpster Gang is about scavenging, stealing and surviving. Players rummage through dumpsters, swipe junk, hoard snacks and solve puzzles, all while rescuing teammates who get captured along the way. Looming over everything is the Exterminator, a persistent threat who hunts the gang and keeps every outing from feeling too comfortable. The loop sounds built for short, frantic sessions: grab what you can, help your friends, and get out before trouble arrives.

Movement is a big part of the fantasy. The raccoons can climb walls and scurry through vents, which should open up sneaky routes and cheeky shortcuts that a more grounded character simply could not use. The game can be played solo or in co-op for up to four players, and it is easy to imagine the co-op version quickly descending into friendly sabotage, with one player hoarding snacks while another accidentally draws the Exterminator’s attention. That shared chaos, rather than precision platforming, looks like the main draw.

Between missions, the gang returns to a hideout that players can decorate with stolen loot. It is a nice touch that turns all that pilfering into something lasting: the junk you drag home becomes part of your base. Players can also unlock hats that grant unique abilities, adding a layer of progression and personalization on top of the sandbox antics. A raccoon in a special hat with a special trick is exactly the sort of thing that will fuel highlight clips.

The release plan is staggered. PC players get Dumpster Gang first, on December 3, 2026, via Steam, Xbox on PC and PC Game Pass. Console players will have to wait a little longer, with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (including Xbox Game Pass) and Nintendo Switch 2 versions arriving in March 2027. Anyone curious can try it sooner: a free demo is available now on Steam and Xbox on PC, covering the tutorial and the first two levels, which should be plenty to tell whether the raccoon chaos clicks.

Coyote House Games is a new studio formed by two college friends, and there is some pedigree behind the mischief: one co-founder, Sam, previously shipped Midnight Ghost Hunt as game director. That background in asymmetric multiplayer mischief feels like a good fit for a game about outwitting an Exterminator with friends. Dumpster Gang may be one of the smaller announcements of the showcase, but its combination of co-op mayhem, a customizable hideout and a very good demo offer makes it one to watch. It joins a busy day of console announcements, including Witchbrook finally getting its release date, and you can follow more news on Proven Gamer as the showcase announcements keep rolling in.