New PC Game Hijinks High From Laid-Off Xbox Developers Challenges You To Become A High School Menace
Sackbird Studios, founded by former ZeniMax Online Studios developers who were laid off after Microsoft canceled their original game, has announced Hijinks High, a new online cooperative game for PC. The title challenges players to become “the school’s menace” through a day of mischief and chaos at high school.
In the co-op experience, up to six players team up to complete randomized missions and accept dares designed to cause maximum disruption. The game features absurdist gameplay elements including bathroom pranks, setting booby traps throughout the school, and managing physical consequences like injuries that require hospital visits. Beyond the chaos, players must manage their character’s bodily needs throughout the day, adding another layer to the simulation-style gameplay.
Hijinks High appears designed as a comedic, physics-based sandbox where player creativity and teamwork drive the experience. The game emphasizes slapstick humor and lighthearted mayhem rather than serious objectives.
The announcement represents a significant new direction for Sackbird Studios following the Xbox job cuts and game cancellation that led to the studio’s formation. For the former ZeniMax Online developers, Hijinks High offers a chance to continue their game development careers independently following the Microsoft-related layoffs.