MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a first-person shooter from Fumi Games, published by PlaySide Studios, that blends hand-drawn 1930s rubber hose animation with noir detective storytelling. It launches on April 16, 2026. Here is everything you need to know before picking it up.
Release Date and Launch Times
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire launches digitally on April 16, 2026 across the following platforms:
- PC (Steam)
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X/S
- Nintendo Switch 2
The global digital rollout begins at 8:00 AM PDT / 11:00 AM EDT on April 16, though exact unlock times may vary slightly by region. Previous-generation releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the original Nintendo Switch will arrive at a later date, with details to be confirmed separately.
How Much Does MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Cost?
Digital Standard Edition pricing:
| Platform | USD | GBP | EUR |
| PC (Steam) | $29.99 | £24.99 | €29.99 |
| PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | £24.99 | €29.99 |
| Xbox Series X/S | $29.99 | £24.99 | €29.99 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | $29.99 | £24.99 | €29.99 |
You can purchase the digital Standard Edition via Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store, and the Nintendo eShop from launch day.
The Steam Digital Deluxe Edition is available at $39.99 / £33.49 / €39.99 and includes the base game, the first DLC expansion, the full Original Game Soundtrack, and a digital comic book.
Physical Editions
Physical copies arrive on July 10, 2026 in two editions:
Physical Standard Edition:
| Platform | USD | GBP | EUR |
| PlayStation 5 (disc) | $29.99 | £29.99 | €34.99 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 (cartridge) | $39.99 | £39.99 | €44.99 |
Physical Deluxe “Mouseburg Edition”:
| Platform | USD | GBP | EUR |
| PlayStation 5 (disc) | $49.99 | £49.99 | €54.99 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 (cartridge) | $59.99 | £52.99 | €59.99 |
| Xbox Series X (disc) | N/A | £49.99 | €54.99 |
| PC Steam (code in box) | N/A | £44.99 | €49.99 |
The Mouseburg Edition includes the base game, a 7″ vinyl record with four soundtrack tracks, a double-sided poster featuring a map of Mouseburg and a schematic of Jack Pepper’s pistol, a printed comic book with two sticker sheets, 33 Mouseburg Baseball Trading Cards, and three premium postcards.
Note that the Xbox Series X physical edition carries limited regional availability, with stronger distribution across Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and Australia. North American players looking for a physical Xbox copy may need to import. Region restrictions apply across all physical editions, so check availability for your territory before ordering.
Xbox players also benefit from Xbox Play Anywhere support with the digital version, meaning one purchase covers both Xbox Series X/S and PC at no additional cost.
What Is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire?
You play as Jack Pepper, a war veteran turned private detective navigating the corrupt underbelly of Mouseburg. A missing magician case quickly spirals into a larger conspiracy involving kidnapping, murder, crooked cops, and politically motivated crime. The game features over 20 noir-infused levels, a fully original big band jazz soundtrack composed by Patryk Scelina with a contribution from electro swing act Caravan Palace, and more than ten unique weapons, all rendered in hand-drawn black-and-white rubber hose animation.
Additional features include unlockable movement abilities, Metroidvania-inspired traversal, collectible baseball cards, wall-running, grapple hooks, and a double jump. The campaign runs approximately 12 to 20 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore and collect.
PC System Requirements
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 9500 / Ryzen 3400 | Intel Core i5 9600 / Ryzen 3600 |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 1060 / Radeon RX 580 | RTX 3060 / Radeon RX 7600 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 11 GB | 11 GB |
| VRAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is Steam Deck Verified as confirmed on April 13, 2026. The file size sits at approximately 11 GB across most platforms. On Xbox, the game supports 120FPS on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
The game carries a PEGI 16 rating for Violence, making it worth noting for younger players or parents before purchasing.
What Are Critics Saying?
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire currently holds an OpenCritic score of 83 with 92% of critics recommending it, alongside a Metacritic score of 80. Here is where major outlets landed:
| Outlet | Score |
| DualShockers | 9.5/10 |
| Gaming Boulevard | 9.5/10 |
| GamingTrend | 9/10 |
| PC Gamer | 8.6/10 |
| Shacknews | 8/10 |
| GameSpot | 8/10 |
| Forbes | 7.5/10 |
| TheGamer | 3.5/5 |
| IGN | 6/10 |
The majority of critics praised the visual style, jazz soundtrack, gunplay, and level variety. However, some outlets pointed to the game’s low difficulty even on the hardest Supersleuth setting, occasional level repetition, verbose dialogue, and the tension between its noir storytelling ambitions and its boomer shooter action. Troy Baker leads the voice cast as Jack Pepper and received consistent praise across the board. IGN’s score of 6/10 proved the most divisive, sitting noticeably below the broader critical consensus.
Key Takeaways From Reviews
What critics loved:
- Hand-drawn rubber hose animation that feels authentic to the 1930s throughout every level
- A big band jazz soundtrack that elevates both combat and exploration
- Fast, fluid gunplay with satisfying movement options including dash, double jump, and grapple
- Strong level variety across steamboats, movie sets, swamps, and underground labs
- The James Gun (Tommy Gun) stood out as one of the most satisfying weapons across multiple reviews
What critics flagged:
- Generous health and ammunition drops make the game too easy, even on the hardest difficulty
- Some late-game weapons feel noticeably underpowered compared to earlier unlocks
- Dialogue can slow momentum, particularly mid-level
- Level design occasionally locks players out of explored areas with no backtracking option
Final Thoughts
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire arrives as one of the most visually distinctive shooters in years. At $29.99, it offers strong value for fans of boomer shooters, noir storytelling, and classic animation. You can purchase it today via Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store, or the Nintendo eShop. If a physical copy is more your style, pre-orders for the July 10 release are open now.
Leave a Reply