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Running With Scissors Announces Postal 4 and Cancels Bullet Paradise

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Friday, December 5th 2025 at 14:37 GMT by Polygon

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Running With Scissors Announces New Postal Game—Bullet Paradise Gets the Axe

Running With Scissors’ latest press release has pulled the franchise’s name back into the limelight, this time with a brand‑new Postal title slated for release later this year. The announcement came at the 2024 Game Developers Conference, where the studio announced Postal 4—an open‑world, top‑down shooter that promises to take the franchise’s irreverent violence and satirical tone to new heights. In the same announcement, the studio confirmed that the long‑rumoured side project Bullet Paradise was officially canceled, with its assets being repurposed for the new Postal entry.

A Franchise with a Rough Road

The Postal series, created by Running With Scissors in 1997, has long been known for its shock value and unapologetic critique of consumer culture. Postal (1997) was a first‑person shooter with a focus on anarchy; Postal 2 (2003) followed up with a larger map and more intense gore, quickly becoming a cult favourite among gamers who appreciated the franchise’s unapologetic humor.

However, the series has not been without its share of hiccups. In 2007, Postal 3 was in development but was shelved when the studio realized it could not deliver a game that met its own standards. The cancellation of Postal 3 was followed by a brief pause that left fans wondering whether the franchise would ever return. In 2013, the studio tried a different approach with Postal: The Game, an open‑world title that was a commercial flop, further eroding confidence in the IP’s viability.

Despite these setbacks, Running With Scissors remained a perennial presence in the indie and retro‑gaming circles. Their decision to announce a new Postal title—Postal 4—is a clear sign that the studio believes it can finally recapture the franchise’s original charm while updating the gameplay to meet modern expectations.

Postal 4: What’s New

According to the developer’s press kit, Postal 4 will feature:

• Open‑world Sanity City – A sprawling cityscape with 150 locations, ranging from a neon‑lit downtown district to a decaying industrial zone. The city will be fully explorable, and every NPC will have a distinct personality and unique dialogue trees.

• Dynamic, Physics‑Based Combat – The core mechanic will revolve around an updated physics engine that allows bullets to ricochet, bullets to bounce off glass, and even the occasional environmental hazard (e.g., an exploding beer can) to alter the battlefield.

• Expanded Weaponry – In addition to the iconic shotgun and semi‑automatic pistol, the new roster includes “the Gutter‑Buster” (a custom chain gun) and “the Banana Blaster” (a weapon that can launch fruit, just for the extra gore). These items will be unlockable via in‑game achievements or a micro‑transaction system that will allow players to purchase cosmetic upgrades.

• Story Mode – The narrative centers on the “Postalman” (previously just “Posty”), who now is a veteran of the chaotic world. The plot follows him through a series of events that revolve around a powerful corporation called “Sanity Inc.” The player will encounter a cast of characters who each represent different political or philosophical ideologies, offering commentary on modern society.

• Multiplayer – There will be both co‑op and competitive modes. The co‑op mode will allow two players to take on the role of the Postalman and his sidekick (a sarcastic robotic assistant named “Rob”). The competitive mode will be a “Battle Royale” style “Postal Brawl” featuring 50 players in a 30‑minute map.

• Platform Support – The game will launch on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The developers emphasized that the Switch version will run at 60fps, albeit with scaled graphics.

• Release Window – While a definitive release date was not announced, the studio suggested that the game will be live by Q4 2024. Pre‑orders will be available starting next month on Steam, with early‑bird bundles that include exclusive skins and in‑game currency.

Why Bullet Paradise Was Canceled

Bullet Paradise was originally a side project that the studio had been developing for roughly two years. The premise was a first‑person rail‑shooter that had the feel of an arcade-style shooter, but with a unique blend of cartoonish aesthetics and over‑the‑top gore. Early teaser footage showed a bright, neon‑drenched environment reminiscent of Tron, but with a cartoonish, over‑the‑top twist. However, the studio announced that the project would not see the light of day.

In the statement posted on the studio’s Twitter feed, the team said, “After months of crunch and an unexpected shift in our resource allocation, Bullet Paradise had to be placed on the table.” The developer also noted that the game’s core assets—especially the level design and physics scripts—will be integrated into Postal 4, giving the new game an extra layer of polish.

The cancellation was a disappointment to a small but passionate community of fans who had followed the Bullet Paradise teaser for months. However, many of those fans see the repurposing of the assets as a silver lining, as it means that the “Bullet” concept will live on in a more stable environment.

Developer’s Vision

In a post‑release interview with Polygon (the same source that broke the news), the studio’s co‑founder, Jaron, stated:

“We’re really excited to bring the Postal experience to a new generation. We’ve listened to fans for years and wanted to make sure that the new game was fun, fresh, and respectful of the legacy we have.”

Jaron also clarified that the game will not aim to be a direct sequel to Postal 3, but rather a new story with the same core themes: satire, social commentary, and unfiltered violence. He said the team wanted to make sure that the “spirit” of the franchise remains intact, while providing a modern gameplay experience that is accessible to both longtime fans and newcomers.

Community Reaction

The announcement was met with a mixture of excitement and skepticism. Fans on Reddit’s r/Postal community largely welcomed the new game, with many posting their own fan‑art and discussing potential storylines. A few were wary of the potential for a “rehash” that might fail to capture the essence of the earlier titles. In particular, the community has debated whether the new open‑world design would dilute the intensity of the earlier games’ combat. The studio’s transparency in terms of gameplay demos has helped quell many of these concerns, as the first playthrough was streamed on Twitch, and the gameplay footage has shown a well‑polished, physics‑driven shooter.

Meanwhile, the cancellation of Bullet Paradise sparked a separate thread of discussion. Some community members argued that Bullet Paradise could have become an independent hit if given a chance, but many agreed that the assets being integrated into Postal 4 was a pragmatic move.

Looking Forward

Running With Scissors is committed to a robust support plan for Postal 4, with promises of DLC expansions and community‑driven events. The studio is also actively soliciting feedback from early adopters through a closed beta that will be available in Q3 2024. They’ve even hinted at a “Postmaster’s Guild” – a dedicated space for players to design custom skins and weapon mods that can be shared with the community.

For those who have been waiting to see what the new Postal game will deliver, it seems that the studio is putting a strong emphasis on both the comedic roots of the franchise and a modern, physics‑heavy gameplay loop. The cancellation of Bullet Paradise is a small footnote in a larger story—one that shows a studio willing to pivot, learn, and ultimately deliver a title that honors its legacy while carving out a fresh path.

With a clear development roadmap and an eager community, Postal 4 is poised to become the most talked‑about release for the franchise in over a decade. Whether the final product will live up to its hype remains to be seen, but the announcement alone has re‑ignited a debate that the Postal community has been having for years: is the series still worth the risk of a new entry? Only time, and a lot of bullets, will tell.