Fat Princess

Lore & Background

Fat Princess was originally developed by Darkstar Industries, which went defunct; the developers then opened Titan Studios under Epic Games China. The game was their only original title, as they mostly supported other Epic Games projects. A private beta was held in June 2009, and the release date was confirmed for July 30, 2009, after earlier reports suggested a late August window. The PlayStation Store team noted the release window could only be told as 'some point this century.'

The game features two teams of up to 16 players each, with the goal of rescuing the princess from the enemy castle while feeding her cake to increase her weight. Players can change classes by picking up hats from hat machines or fallen enemies. Six base classes exist—Villager, Worker, Priest, Ranger, Mage, and Warrior—plus three downloadable classes (Pirate, Ninja, Giant) from the Fat Roles add-on pack. Resources like wood and ore allow upgrades to hat machines and construction of fortifications and siege equipment.

Multiple game modes include Rescue the Princess, Legend of the Fat Princess (story mode), Team Deathmatch, Invasion, Snatch 'n Grab, Queen's Rule (soccer mode), and Gladiate (solo mode). A PlayStation Home event called 'Fat Princess: Quest for Cake' ran from July 30 to September 10, 2009, in European and North American versions, and from August 27 to September 10 in the Asian version. The event was designed by nDreams.

Reader's Guide

Fat Princess is significant as a creative multiplayer title that blended real-time strategy elements with action gameplay, offering a unique alternative to the shooters dominant in the late 2000s. Its core mechanic—feeding cake to make the princess heavier—introduced a strategic layer to the capture-the-flag formula, encouraging teamwork and resource management. The class system, with six base and three downloadable classes, provided variety and replayability, while the ability to upgrade hat machines and build fortifications added depth.

The game received generally favorable reviews, with IGN praising its versatility and charm, and GameTrailers awarding it Best Downloadable Game of 2009. However, some feminist groups criticized it for reinforcing stereotypes about overweight women. The PSP port, Fistful of Cake, received average reviews but added new modes and levels. Fat Princess also spawned later titles: Fat Princess Adventures (2015, PlayStation 4) and Fat Princess: Piece of Cake (2015, mobile and PlayStation Vita), and the titular character appeared in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (2012). Its legacy lies in its innovative gameplay and cult following, though it remains a niche entry in Sony's library.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally developed by Darkstar Industries, which went defunct; the team then formed Titan Studios under Epic Games China.
• A PlayStation Home event called 'Fat Princess: Quest for Cake' required players to hunt eight pieces of cake to earn a 'Fat Princess: Throne' for their apartment.
• The Fat Roles add-on pack, adding Pirate, Ninja, and Giant classes, was developed by Atomic Operations Media and released on June 19, 2010.
• The PSP version, Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake, includes four exclusive multiplayer modes: Demolition, Dilapidation, Grim Reaper, and Jailbreak.