Jumping Jazz Cats News

Hello feline friends! 👋

Today, we're happy to announce that we've released a Experimental Beta Branch for Jumping Jazz Cats on Steam!

This Steam Beta Branch is accessible to all, allowing you to playtest on a branch with Steam Deck Additions and Bug Fixes.


[h3]❓ How do I access the Experimental Beta Branch?[/h3]
You can play the Beta Branch in a few simple steps, which are listed below:

1. Head to your Steam Library and find Jumping Jazz Cats.
   
2. On the Jumping Jazz Cats page in Steam Library, select the Manage menu (Settings like toggle icon ⚙️).
   
3. Select Properties.
   
4. Select Betas.
   
5. On the Beta page, click the dropdown under Beta Participation.
   
6. Select the 'experimental - PUBLIC - Experimental Branch' to opt into the Beta Build.
   
7. Your download of the new branch should start to download automatically. If not, close and reopen the Steam client application.

On this branch, you may experience some bugs. We have a dedicated Steam Discussions forum post, which is pinned to the Discussions page. Please use this to provide your Beta Branch feedback and to report any issues with the Experimental Beta Branch with us.

[h2]Patch Notes - Experimental Beta Build:[/h2]
[h3]Steam Deck Specific:[/h3]

• Addition of Local multiplayer (split-screen), which has been activated for Steam Deck!

[h3]Bug Fixes:[/h3]

• Fixes to the UI, altering location of the golden bug score when playing in split-screen.
  
• Fixes to Ring Rally, with players now able to collect items whilst riding the Robo-vac or Dog with the special item ring.
  
• Fixes to the laser so it no longer triggers items or booster rings found in Ring Rally.
  
• Various optimizations across the game.
  
• Fixed various bugs where players could fly through the ceiling.
  
• Fixes to various effectiveness and balancing of collar tags.

[h2]Provide Feedback in our Discord Server ✅[/h2]
We also have a dedicated channel for the Experimental Beta Branch in our Discord server, so you can playtest the branch, provide feedback or find players to play with on this Beta Branch! Join the Le Catnip Collective server today 😸



We hope you enjoy this Beta Branch and we're looking forward to seeing your feedback on this for Steam!
[h3]Play Now! 👇😼[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1951780/Jumping_Jazz_Cats/
[h3]Keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats![/h3]
Follow Le Catnip Collective on X Follow Le Catnip Collective on TikTok Follow Le Catnip Collective on Instagram Join our Discord server

[h3]Hello feline friends! 👋[/h3]
We're thrilled to announce that Jumping Jazz Cats has released for Steam! 🥳

Play, race and hang with your feline friends in our online platformer party game! Learn more about Jumping Jazz Cats by watching our new Launch Trailer! 👇

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Are you ready to purr-fect your pussycat parkour as you sprint, jump, bounce, swing, skid and slide through a collection of collaborative and competitive mini-games set in a grandiose cartoon mansion. Get jumpin', jazz cats! 😸



[h3]Jumping Jazz Cats - Key Features:[/h3]
🎵 2-9 players online
🎵 Up to 4 local players can join via split-screen
🎵 Singleplayer Trials
🎵 6 levels across the mansion to discover
🎵 Unlock Collar Tags for buffs across mini-games
🎵 Customize your cat
🎵 6 cat-GIF inspired mini-games
🎵 10 original jazz tracks that influence gameplay during the choruses
🎵 Mix and match levels, mini-games and songs for immense variety
🎵 Blend of co-operative and competitive strategies



[h3]Play Now on Steam! 👇😼[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1951780/Jumping_Jazz_Cats/
[h2]Join our Discord server! ✅[/h2]
The best way to keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats is via our developer Discord! Join the Le Catnip Collective server today 😸



[h3]Keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats![/h3]
Follow Le Catnip Collective on X Follow Le Catnip Collective on TikTok Follow Le Catnip Collective on Instagram Join our Discord server

[h3]Hey there Feline Friends! 👋[/h3]

In today's Steam post, Team17 sat down with Jumping Jazz Cat's development team at Le Catnip Collective to bring you a two-part Dev Blog! 🥳

Before jumping in with the Dev Blog, earlier in the week we announced our new Steam launch date for Jumping Jazz Cats - 20th May 2025! We're super excited for you all to experience our kittycat party game on May 20th 😺



In part two of our Dev Blog series, we'll be chatting with Dan, Le Catnip Collective's Director & Co-Founder, to discuss Jumping Jazz Cats' origins, gaming inspirations, the party game's cat animations, and the upcoming launch on Steam! 💜

[h2]Dev Log Q&A with Daniel Harris[/h2]
[h3]How did the concept of Jumping Jazz Cats come about?[/h3]

"The concept was inspired by my love for cats and their fascinating movement. As a veteran animator, I’m constantly captivated by the way cats move—there’s such an elegant yet quirky flow to their motions. Their natural parkour-like dexterity felt like the perfect foundation for an engaging gameplay experience. I wanted to capture that unique grace and fluidity, making it both fun and challenging for players to control these jazzy, acrobatic cats in action."


[h3]What inspired you and your team to create Jumping Jazz Cats?[/h3]

"As big fans of couch play and party games, we saw an opportunity to bring something fresh and unique to the genre by combining the fun of cat GIF antics with engaging party game mechanics. It’s not often that you see sophisticated 3D platforming integrated into a party game, and that’s something we were really excited to explore. Our goal was to create a game that’s accessible and easy for casual players to jump into, while also offering enough depth and complexity in the mechanics to keep more advanced players coming back for more. We wanted to strike that perfect balance between fun and mastery.


Also, creating a unique environment and world was a top priority for us. Drawing inspiration from nostalgic jazz, architectural themes, and the stylized art of Disney and Saturday morning cartoons, we aimed to build a beautiful, wild, and occasionally odd fantasy world for players to escape into. We wanted the environment itself to be just as engaging and immersive as the gameplay."


[h3]How did you go about capturing the essence of cats in the game’s animations and in Jumping Jazz Cats’ gameplay?[/h3]

"A big part of capturing the essence of cats started with extensive reference study. I spent a lot of time observing frame-by-frame videos of cats in action—whether they were jumping, prowling, crawling, or pouncing. Sometimes it was about faithfully understanding the physical movements of cats and quadrupeds, while other times, it was more about emphasizing dynamic character control. To keep the gameplay engaging, I used cartoony motion to "cheat" the timing and make movement feel quicker and more fluid. I also added special effects to highlight certain actions, creating an exciting feel during key moments."

[h3]Is there one feature of the game that you are most proud of?[/h3]

"While it’s hard to pinpoint a single feature, I’m incredibly proud of how fun the game has become overall. After hundreds of hours of playtesting, our team still genuinely enjoys playing it every time. It’s amazing how often the mechanics surprise us, and that sense of discovery is something we’re truly proud of. It shows that we’ve created something that not only works, but continues to be enjoyable and exciting even after so much time."


[h3]Cat games have become their own genre recently with games like Stray, Little Kitty Big City, and more! How does it feel to add another twist to the kitty game formula?[/h3]

"It’s true—there are so many new and exciting ways to experience playing as a cat now! It’s been really fun to be part of this growing trend. Being compared to such fantastic titles as Stray and Little Kitty Big City is an honor, as they each bring their own unique take on the cat genre.


Our goal is to offer something different with a more quirky, cartoony vibe, and the chance to play as a wild party of cats with friends. We’re excited to offer a unique, multiplayer experience that we hope cat-game fans will really enjoy!"

[h3]Describe your emotions and how you are feeling in the lead-up to the launch![/h3]

"There are definitely a lot of emotions at this stage! I’m excited to see players around the world come together to prove their cat parkour skills. At the same time, I’m feeling a sense of relief knowing we’re about to launch our very first game. It’s such an incredible achievement for our small studio to get this project over the finish line and out into the world. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what we’ve worked so hard to create!"

[h2]Just days away from our launch...😻🗓️[/h2]
Jumping Jazz Cats launches on Steam on 20th May! We're so close to our launch date and cannot wait to see you all jumping around Ellington Estate and playing our cat parkour mini-games soon! 🥳

We hope you enjoyed this Dev Blog Q&A with Dan around the development of Jumping Jazz Cats! 💜 If you missed part one of our Dev Blog with Arun, Le Catnip Collective's Co-Founder, Music Composer & Sound Designer, you can read this in the post below! ⬇️
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1951780/view/499442589740565452?l=english
[h3]Wishlist Jumping Jazz Cats today! 👇😼[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1951780/Jumping_Jazz_Cats/

[h3]Keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats![/h3]
Follow Le Catnip Collective on X Follow Le Catnip Collective on TikTok Follow Le Catnip Collective on Instagram Join our Discord server

Hey there Feline Friends! 👋😸

We're hope you're excited for Jumping Jazz Cats' launch on 20th May! 😼

In today's Steam post, we wanted to reveal more details of our final two minigames in our online cat party game!

Watch the full Mini-Game Deep Dive video here: ⬇️

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]🐀 Rodent Rumble[/h2]
In Rodent Rumble, the aim is simple: Catch that rat. The longer you or your team hold onto that pesky rodent, the more points you earn!



The longer you hold onto the rat, the more it vibrates and wriggles away until it's out of your kittycat paws! Combat this by throwing the rat to your team mates to hold onto the toy for longer and scoring even more points in Rodent Rumble.


[h2]🦁 Shadow Cats[/h2]
Shadow Cats is a variation of tag, with a feline twist!



You and your team can either be a Shadow Cat or a Lion. If you are a Shadow Cat, you'll want to run fast and hide. The Lion team are tasked with capturing the Shadow Cats by using their mighty roars which stops you in your tracks.


[h2]Play our Jumping Jazz Cats Demo today! 👇😼[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1951780/Jumping_Jazz_Cats/

[h2]Join our Discord server! ✅[/h2]
The best way to stay updated with Jumping Jazz Cats is via our developer Discord! Join the Le Catnip Collective server today 😸



[h3]Keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats![/h3]
Follow Le Catnip Collective on X Follow Le Catnip Collective on TikTok Follow Le Catnip Collective on Instagram Join our Discord server

Hello feline friends! 👋

We're excited to announce our new Steam release date for Jumping Jazz Cats, which launches on 20th May 2025! It's not long until you'll be jumping into the kitty parkour party in Ellington Estate and battling your friends across our six online party games! 🥳

[h2]Jumping Jazz Cats launches 20th May on Steam![/h2]



[h3]Jumping Jazz Cats - Key Features:[/h3]
🏠 Explore six varied levels: Jumping Jazz Cats blends co-operative and competitive strategies together, to create a cat party game like no-other! Each level has different objectives, some requiring you to work together with your team mates and others to get the highest score possible to claim a victory over the other team.



🐈‍⬛ Customise your dream kitty: In our customisation menu, you’ll find Pussycat Presets to select from and play as! There’s 40+ cat breeds/designs to play as, so many purr-fect cats! Once you’ve selected a preset, you can customise your cats fur colour, face shape, eyes and body to create your perfect feline friend!



😼 Chaotic online play: Jump into rounds of minigames for 2-9 players online! Levels can be mixed and matched as each level can be paired with a varied chorus gameplay song, giving a different experience every time you play each minigame!



4️⃣ Play locally via 4 player co-op or solo-play trials: Want to play with your friends via couch co-op? We've got you! Jumping Jazz Cats is playable via four player local split-screen away from our online play. Or if you want to play on your own, our game has a Solo Trials mode for single-player games!



🎷So much Jazz: Find 10 original Jazz tracks in Jumping Jazz Cats! These Jazz tracks occur in our gameplay chorus songs to provide a different experience every time you play each minigame!



😹 Cat Meme References: Jumping Jazz Cats contains six mini-games all inspired by catGIFs! We hope you have fun guessing and finding out all the references in Jumping Jazz Cats... 👀



[h2]Join our Discord server! ✅[/h2]
The best way to keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats is via our developer Discord! Join the Le Catnip Collective server today 😸



[h3]Play the demo today! 👇😼[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1951780/Jumping_Jazz_Cats/
[h3]Keep up to date with Jumping Jazz Cats![/h3]
Follow Le Catnip Collective on X Follow Le Catnip Collective on TikTok Follow Le Catnip Collective on Instagram Join our Discord server