Wiesbaden, Germany – July 20th, 2026 – Assemble Entertainment is partnering with Pithead Studio to support the publishing of Cralon, the first-person dungeon crawler RPG from veteran developers Björn and Jenny Pankratz.
Following its self-published release earlier this year, Cralon sparked strong discussion among players and press. While the launch drew criticism, the game also built a dedicated audience around its old-school dungeon crawler design, dark atmosphere, exploration-focused structure, and connection to the legacy of classic German RPGs.
With Assemble Entertainment joining the project, Pithead Studio will receive additional publishing support across communication, store presence, marketing, community management, and long-term visibility. The goal of the partnership is to help Cralon reach more players, strengthen its positioning and support the developers as they continue working on the game’s future.
“Cralon is a very personal project from a small, experienced team with a clear creative vision. I have known Jenny and Bjoern personally for years,” said Stefan Marcinek, CEO at Assemble Entertainment. “We know the release created discussion, but we also see a game with character, a passionate audience and developers who care about their work. And they proved it with multiple patches. Our role is to support Pithead Studio and help Cralon find the players who will appreciate what it sets out to do.”
Cralon puts players in the role of Cralon the Brave, a hunter trapped in the depths of an abandoned mine shaft after a demon encounter goes wrong. To escape, players explore a vast underground world, fight dangerous creatures, solve quests and puzzles, loot and craft equipment, and uncover the secrets hidden within the darkness below.
“After releasing Cralon independently, we are happy to have Assemble Entertainment at our side for the next step,” said Jenny Pankratz, Co-Founder at Pithead Studio. “Their experience in publishing gives us valuable support while we continue focusing on the game and our players.”
Cralon is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
About Cralon
Cralon is an old-school first-person dungeon crawler with RPG, adventure, survival, and immersive sim elements. Set in a dark abandoned mine shaft, the game focuses on exploration, atmosphere, quests, crafting, combat, secrets and a mysterious underground world.
About Pithead Studio
Pithead Studio is an independent developer based in Bochum, Germany, founded by Bjoern and Jenny Pankratz. Both bring decades of experience in RPG development, including work on the Gothic, Risen, and ELEX series. The studio focuses on dense, dark immersive games with deep storylines, RPG and adventure elements.
About Assemble Entertainment
Assemble Entertainment is an independent publisher based in Germany, best known for indie hits such as Sticky Business, Roadwarden, Decktamer, Paddle Paddle Paddle, Grind Survivors and the Endzone franchise. Since 2016, Assemble has released more than 50 games across different genres, including cozy, horror, strategy and roguelike and has established itself as a trusted partner for bringing original indie projects to market.