Dave the Diver is a modest sport that has expanded like Dave’s belt dimension. The underwater journey and restaurant administration sim mash-up was a shock hit, and has since spawned crossover efforts with fishing sport Dredge, the kaiju Godzilla, and even Ichiban Kasuga of the Like A Dragon collection. Now the sport is getting ready to dive again in with the In The Jungle enlargement in early 2026. The DLC will see Dave and his crew heading to a brand new freshwater biome and catching lake-dwelling creatures to make their dishes. GameSpot spoke with Mintrocket CEO and Dave the Diver sport director Jaeho Hwang concerning the upcoming enlargement, how the studio has responded to the sport’s success, and the scrumptious analysis that goes into making a sport all about meals.
GameSpot: What was the genesis of the “Within the Jungle” idea? What was the staff making an attempt to realize with this new biome?
Jaeho Hwang: In Dave the Diver, we felt we had achieved a good job showcasing the mystique of the ocean, so we wished to discover a very totally different world this time.
The jungle biome was one thing we had been wanting to attempt for the reason that early days of creating Dave the Diver. We could not embody fascinating freshwater creatures like alligators or piranhas earlier than, and gamers have been asking for them so much. You could have seen large, fierce fish like catfish or tigerfish in documentaries or on YouTube. We thought it could be enjoyable for Dave to catch and battle these sorts of creatures.
In addition to the lake, we additionally plan to convey the jungle’s various wildlife and bugs to the sport. You will see Dave chasing wild butterflies and even getting attacked by monkeys.
Did you study any classes from the primary marketing campaign and former DLCs that you have utilized to this one?
Hwang: Moderately than merely increasing the primary sport expertise like most DLCs do, our purpose was to create a DLC that provides a very totally different expertise. Of course, we have saved the enjoyable core components of administration and exploration from the primary sport, however past that, we purpose to ship that enjoyment by means of new techniques. Increasing the sport utilizing the unique techniques and mechanics will proceed by means of different DLCs or updates, whereas Within the Jungle DLC focuses on introducing new experiences and experimental techniques. We are attempting to tell apart and supply two totally different ideas.
For instance, on this DLC, time flows in actual time on the village. There are additionally gathering and crafting components. In contrast to the unique sport the place the story has linear development and the NPCs seem robotically, Dave might want to actively method and speak to them this time. Of course, there nonetheless are distinctive friends who present up unexpectedly.
Sustaining the leisure of the unique sport whereas presenting it in a brand new means is as difficult as creating a wholly new sport. The growth course of has actually been troublesome, however we’re constantly enhancing the standard and imagine we might have the ability to current a satisfying expertise to our gamers when the DLC launches.
What sort of analysis goes into creating new underwater biomes and sushi recipes? Journeys to the aquarium and nice sushi eating places?
Hwang: This time, for the reason that theme is freshwater fish, the primary dishes will surprisingly be grilled fish as an alternative of sushi!
[That may] sound a bit reckless for us to take away one of the vital beloved components. However that is really why we’re releasing this as a DLC reasonably than a full sequel. A sequel would want to protect and construct upon the interesting components of the unique sport.
After we design new areas or ecosystems, I attempt to expertise the ambiance firsthand as a lot as doable. For the jungle setting, I drew a variety of inspiration from a visit to Indonesia–although I did not get the prospect to dive right into a lake.
A lot of the dishes in Dave the Diver are fictional, however many staff members love scuba diving and sometimes share meals experiences from their travels, which we incorporate into the sport. We additionally had staff gatherings on the aquarium to watch fish habits in actual life.
For Within the Jungle DLC, we referenced some fish instantly from our workplace aquarium, together with discus and snakehead.
The new lake setting would appear to make an enormous distinction to the forms of fish obtainable. Does it influence different facets of the underwater segments?
Hwang: As proven within the trailer, the most important change is the introduction of creatures like alligators and catfish.
There are additionally variations within the assets you’ll be able to collect underwater on the lake. For instance, since it isn’t the ocean, you will not be amassing coral or starfish.
On this DLC, we have lowered the randomness of acquiring weapons underwater and as an alternative targeted on upgrading the gear in numerous varieties within the village. You will additionally discover new weapons tailor-made to the area.
The lake within the DLC really begins off polluted attributable to a sure incident, and there are some components triggered from this. It will also be purified by means of a sure course of.
I can not reveal an entire lot simply but, however there are additionally some gimmicks from historic civilization components discovered within the lake.
How do you method paid vs free DLC updates?
Hwang: Dave the Diver has been much more profitable than now we have anticipated, so we have tried to offer as a lot content material as doable without spending a dime. Up to now–aside from the Like a Dragon collaboration–everything, together with the Nintendo Change 2 improve, has been supplied for free of charge. Our gamers have been supporting us with unbelievable ardour, and we have by no means felt that this method has brought on us any loss.
Nonetheless, Within the Jungle DLC content material can be round 10 hours of gameplay and we have put in a major quantity of growth effort behind this. For that reason, it is going to be launched as paid add-on content material. We have heard some disappointment from our neighborhood relating to the excessive value of the Like a Dragon DLC ($6.99) in comparison with its quantity, so this time we’re dedicated to setting a good value and delivering content material that exceeds expectations in high quality as now we have achieved previously.
How has the sport’s success impacted your course of for dealing with DLC? Did you add extra post-launch plans as soon as it took off or was the plan all the time to offer this a lot post-launch help?
Hwang: As a director, I’ve all the time dreamt that if the bottom sport succeeded, we might have the prospect to increase its universe by means of collaborating with different video games. Fortunately, Dave the Diver’s success gave us the chance to work with many superb IPs–and even convey a few of my private favorites, like Godzilla and Ichiban Kasuga, into our world.
Jungle-themed DLC was all the time a part of our plan, however it could have been troublesome to decide to it if the sport hadn’t acquired such a constructive response. I wish to take this opportunity to thank our gamers for giving us the chance to maintain shifting ahead.
Even after the Within the Jungle DLC, I’ve some enjoyable crossover and content material concepts that I would like to pursue. I can not reveal something simply but, however I hope there will probably be one other likelihood to share them sometime by means of GameSpot.