DaRmaZat PlaySide Publishing and developer Fumi Games have announced that MOUSE: P.I. for Hire, the noir, cartoon-inspired first-person shooter, has been delayed from its previously planned 2025 release window to early 2026. The game will launch for PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Update Oct 23, 2025: MOUSE: P.I. for Hire is officially set to launch on March 19, 2026.
The developers shared the update ahead of the Galaxies Gaming Showcase, originally set to feature a release date announcement later this week. In their joint statement, Fumi Games and PlaySide emphasized that the decision to delay was made to ensure the final version delivers the best possible experience, thanking fans for their ongoing patience and support as development continues.
Set in the crime-ridden city of Mouseburg, MOUSE: P.I. for Hire follows Private Investigator Jack Pepper — a war hero turned detective — as he uncovers a tangled web of corruption, betrayal, and murder. The game combines hand-drawn rubber hose animation inspired by 1930s cartoons with the intensity of a modern first-person shooter. Players will dive into a world of jazz-soaked alleys, smoky casinos, and chaotic shootouts filled with over-the-top cartoon violence and humor.
Armed with an arsenal of classic and comically exaggerated weapons, Pepper takes on mobs, crooked officials, and larger-than-life villains in fast-paced, boomer shooter-style combat. The distinct art direction and slapstick death animations lend a darkly humorous tone to the noir aesthetic, while the soundtrack immerses players in a vintage jazz ambiance straight out of an old film reel.
Beyond gunfights, MOUSE: P.I. for Hire offers exploration across multiple city districts, including film studios, sewers, docks, and swamps — each packed with secrets, collectibles, and quirky characters. Players can enhance their abilities using eccentric upgrades, such as a can of Spike-D Spinach for extra strength or a grappling hook tail for stylish traversal across rooftops.
