KeyWe

KeyWe's story takes place over three seasons:^[1] Summer, Wickertide, and Winter.^[2] Players control Jeff and Debra, two flightless birds.^[3] The kiwis can push and pull objects, or grab letters with their beaks.^[4] The kiwis can also use their butts to collect labels and press buttons.^[4] Each mission has a main objective that has to be completed.^[5] The puzzles receive modifiers as the player progresses.^[1] In one level, Kudzu vines have to be removed to move boxes around the office.^[2] Some buttons may change places, and messages may be written in code.^[1] The main stages task the players with typing messages, placing the correct postcodes and labels on packages, and sorting incoming and outgoing mail.^[3] Beating target times rewards the player with stamps, which can be used to purchase cosmetic items for the kiwis.^[3] Players can replay levels to earn more stamps.^[1] More stamps can be received from playing minigames such as playing instruments and riding cassowaries.^[3]

KeyWe is the first game by US developer Stonewheat & Sons.^[6] The game was prototyped during the 2018 Global Game Jam.^[7] During the event, the developers picked a modifier, and was given "Your game must contain a bird protagonist".^[7] The developers liked the idea of postal birds that couldn't fly, and had to work at desk job instead.^[7] One of the developers drew a picture of a bird wearing a headset, and the team later decided on a game with two birds sending telegrams by typing with their butts.^[8] Grant Gessel is Stonewheat's technical artist, and Joel Davis is the animator.^[9] Stonewheat wanted the game to be accessible to families.^[8] Gessel took inspiration from Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, a story about a conman who is given an opportunity to work as a postmaster.^[10] Rare games such as Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day were inspirations for KeyWe's art style.^[10]

In February, Sold Out announced KeyWe for PC, with a planned release date of 2021.^[11] Sold Out showcased the game at their booth at Pax East 2020, along with Disjunction, No Straight Roads, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder, and Radical Rabbit Stew.^[12] In May, KeyWe was one of 55 games featured at the Wholesome Direct.^[13][14] KeyWe made an appearance at The Escapist's Indie Showcase.^[15] A trailer was featured at Gamescom 2020.^[16] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S versions were announced in February 2021.^[17] The game was set to release in the summer.^[18][19] On April 14, the game was shown at the Nintendo Indie World showcase.^[20][21] The game was given a release date of August. Owners of the Switch version would receive an exclusive outfit.^[22] On May 27, 2021, KeyWe's release date of August 31 was announced.^[23] Those who pre-ordered the game would receive the Early Bird Pack.^[23] KeyWe was featured at the Wholesome Direct of E3 2021.^[24][25] It was also one of over 45 games featured during the Future Games Show.^[26] KeyWe's demo was available during the Steam Next Fest.^[27] KeyWe was released for PC and Nintendo Switch on August 31, 2021.^[28] On September 28, the game was released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.^[29][30] Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions were released on December 16.^[28]

DLC for PC called "The 100th Annual Grand Ol' Telepost Tournament" was released in February 2022.^[31] At W.A.S.D 2022, KeyWe made an appearance at Fireshine's^[a] stand, along with games such as Silt.^[33] KeyWe was added to GeForce Now in June.^[34][35]