Hiroshi Iuchi, the acclaimed designer behind Treasure's Ikaruga, has publicly addressed his exit from developer-publisher M2 and provided the most detailed update yet on Ubusuna, a spiritual successor to Ikaruga whose concept dates back to 2006.
The statement, first reported by Automaton Media and posted on Iuchi’s personal site, clarifies intellectual-property status, current funding talks, and the development history of the long-running shoot‑'em‑up project.
Key facts and context
- Hiroshi Iuchi confirmed he left M2 at the end of 2025.
Iuchi is best known for directing Ikaruga, originally released by Treasure for the Dreamcast and GameCube in 2001.
- Iuchi says he retains the rights to Ubusuna’s original concept and system specifications, which were established in 2006 before his time at M2.
- He noted that any assets produced while the project was under M2 cannot be used in the final game without appropriate compensation or licensing.
- Discussions about outside funding and publishing support are currently underway.
Iuchi’s account of development and departure
In his post, Iuchi made clear he does not intend to abandon Ubusuna and is attempting to protect people involved from financial loss.
He explained that Ubusuna’s development has stalled multiple times over the years and that the project has been revisited in different forms rather than running continuously for more than a decade.
Iuchi accepted some responsibility for delays, saying his drive for perfection and repeated trial-and-error contributed to extended timelines and occasional complacency within the team.
He described the original direction from M2 as allowing the team to take the time needed to achieve his vision, but acknowledged that approach led to a lack of urgency: the team kept iterating without clear milestones, and a full development staff was only assembled relatively recently.
On leaving M2, moving forward, and funding
Iuchi said he left M2 because he no longer wanted to operate within a traditional company structure.
His wife, who is Ubusuna’s principal programmer, and freelance designer Rin Kususaga have played central roles in the project's recent revival.
Kususaga reportedly proposed seeking external funding and assisting with sales, which helped catalyze renewed interest from other contributors and potential partner companies.
Iuchi cautioned that there is no guarantee Ubusuna will be completed and that any positive outcome will take time.
Still, he expressed gratitude for the team’s renewed determination and confirmed that discussions with interested companies have begun.
He also reported that the current build of Ubusuna is enjoyable and, in his view, likely more approachable for many players than Ikaruga.
What this means for fans and platforms
While Iuchi did not announce platforms or a release window, the update represents the clearest sign yet that Ubusuna remains an active project and that financing and publishing conversations are progressing.
Given the persistent interest in classic and modern shoot‑'em‑ups on digital storefronts, any formal deal would likely be watched closely by fans and platform holders alike.
The statement, first reported by Automaton Media and posted on Iuchi’s personal site, clarifies intellectual-property status, current funding talks, and the development history of the long-running shoot‑'em‑up project.
Key facts and context
- Hiroshi Iuchi confirmed he left M2 at the end of 2025.
Iuchi is best known for directing Ikaruga, originally released by Treasure for the Dreamcast and GameCube in 2001.
- Iuchi says he retains the rights to Ubusuna’s original concept and system specifications, which were established in 2006 before his time at M2.
- He noted that any assets produced while the project was under M2 cannot be used in the final game without appropriate compensation or licensing.
- Discussions about outside funding and publishing support are currently underway.
Iuchi’s account of development and departure
In his post, Iuchi made clear he does not intend to abandon Ubusuna and is attempting to protect people involved from financial loss.
He explained that Ubusuna’s development has stalled multiple times over the years and that the project has been revisited in different forms rather than running continuously for more than a decade.
Iuchi accepted some responsibility for delays, saying his drive for perfection and repeated trial-and-error contributed to extended timelines and occasional complacency within the team.
He described the original direction from M2 as allowing the team to take the time needed to achieve his vision, but acknowledged that approach led to a lack of urgency: the team kept iterating without clear milestones, and a full development staff was only assembled relatively recently.
On leaving M2, moving forward, and funding
Iuchi said he left M2 because he no longer wanted to operate within a traditional company structure.
His wife, who is Ubusuna’s principal programmer, and freelance designer Rin Kususaga have played central roles in the project's recent revival.
Kususaga reportedly proposed seeking external funding and assisting with sales, which helped catalyze renewed interest from other contributors and potential partner companies.
Iuchi cautioned that there is no guarantee Ubusuna will be completed and that any positive outcome will take time.
Still, he expressed gratitude for the team’s renewed determination and confirmed that discussions with interested companies have begun.
He also reported that the current build of Ubusuna is enjoyable and, in his view, likely more approachable for many players than Ikaruga.
What this means for fans and platforms
While Iuchi did not announce platforms or a release window, the update represents the clearest sign yet that Ubusuna remains an active project and that financing and publishing conversations are progressing.
Given the persistent interest in classic and modern shoot‑'em‑ups on digital storefronts, any formal deal would likely be watched closely by fans and platform holders alike.
