Mintrocket’s Dave the Diver has continued to attract attention following the launch of its In The Jungle expansion, and the studio’s director Jaeho Hwang recently spoke in detail about the project’s origins, platform challenges, and future plans.
Dave the Diver, developed by Mintrocket, launched earlier in 2024 and is available on multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, Steam (and Steam Deck), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series hardware.
The title blends underwater exploration with a day-job restaurant management loop that helped it stand out in the indie scene.
Origins and creative intent
Hwang explained that the initial idea for Dave the Diver emerged from time spent on Jeju Island in Korea, where the ocean’s changing character inspired a game built around repeated, varied dives.
He said the core loop solidified after learning about a beachside pub that converted the day’s catch into sushi and ran a small restaurant business—an anchor that shaped exploration and progression systems in the final game.
Why an expansion after multiple DLCs
Mintrocket’s director said the studio originally planned smaller DLC centered on freshwater regions, but stronger-than-expected player uptake and opportunities for collaborations pushed those plans toward multiple collab DLCs and eventually a full expansion.
Hwang noted many earlier collaboration packs were released as free DLCs to broaden player experiences while the team prepared a larger package.
Technical work and platform support
On Switch support, Hwang acknowledged the Switch (first-generation hardware) port required extensive optimization because the game was developed targeting current-generation systems.
He apologized that the Switch 1 version was not as stable as intended at launch, and confirmed a substantial portion of the problem had been fixed with a stability update scheduled for late July.
Unity 50Hz physics behavior
Addressing a known technical quirk, Hwang confirmed the team is aware of a Unity-related 50Hz physics update behavior — a topic also examined by Digital Foundry — and said the issue stems from a physics update setting carried from early development.
He cautioned that fixing it requires careful review because it could affect numerous in-game behaviors, and Mintrocket will continue checking technical systems to improve smoothness across platforms.
DLC distribution and cross-save
Regarding the Guilty Gear Strive DLC, Hwang said Mintrocket plans to bring that content to additional storefronts but has not fixed a release window yet and will share details when timing is decided.
On cross-save, he acknowledged player interest but explained cross-save requires platform account-linking systems and compliance with each platform’s review processes, so it is not something the team can enable immediately.
A human note
On a lighter topic, Hwang joked about office coffee habits, saying he tends to stick with the office machine and rarely notices subtle bean changes—an anecdote that underscores the small, human routines behind Mintrocket’s growing indie studio.
Taken together, Mintrocket’s comments provide a clear view of where Dave the Diver stands: a successful indie that continues to expand its content and platform support while addressing technical trade-offs inherent to multi-platform development.
Dave the Diver, developed by Mintrocket, launched earlier in 2024 and is available on multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, Steam (and Steam Deck), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series hardware.
The title blends underwater exploration with a day-job restaurant management loop that helped it stand out in the indie scene.
Origins and creative intent
Hwang explained that the initial idea for Dave the Diver emerged from time spent on Jeju Island in Korea, where the ocean’s changing character inspired a game built around repeated, varied dives.
He said the core loop solidified after learning about a beachside pub that converted the day’s catch into sushi and ran a small restaurant business—an anchor that shaped exploration and progression systems in the final game.
Why an expansion after multiple DLCs
Mintrocket’s director said the studio originally planned smaller DLC centered on freshwater regions, but stronger-than-expected player uptake and opportunities for collaborations pushed those plans toward multiple collab DLCs and eventually a full expansion.
Hwang noted many earlier collaboration packs were released as free DLCs to broaden player experiences while the team prepared a larger package.
Technical work and platform support
On Switch support, Hwang acknowledged the Switch (first-generation hardware) port required extensive optimization because the game was developed targeting current-generation systems.
He apologized that the Switch 1 version was not as stable as intended at launch, and confirmed a substantial portion of the problem had been fixed with a stability update scheduled for late July.
Unity 50Hz physics behavior
Addressing a known technical quirk, Hwang confirmed the team is aware of a Unity-related 50Hz physics update behavior — a topic also examined by Digital Foundry — and said the issue stems from a physics update setting carried from early development.
He cautioned that fixing it requires careful review because it could affect numerous in-game behaviors, and Mintrocket will continue checking technical systems to improve smoothness across platforms.
DLC distribution and cross-save
Regarding the Guilty Gear Strive DLC, Hwang said Mintrocket plans to bring that content to additional storefronts but has not fixed a release window yet and will share details when timing is decided.
On cross-save, he acknowledged player interest but explained cross-save requires platform account-linking systems and compliance with each platform’s review processes, so it is not something the team can enable immediately.
A human note
On a lighter topic, Hwang joked about office coffee habits, saying he tends to stick with the office machine and rarely notices subtle bean changes—an anecdote that underscores the small, human routines behind Mintrocket’s growing indie studio.
Taken together, Mintrocket’s comments provide a clear view of where Dave the Diver stands: a successful indie that continues to expand its content and platform support while addressing technical trade-offs inherent to multi-platform development.
