M2 has confirmed that Ubusuna, the project long described as a spiritual successor to Ikaruga, has been cancelled.
First revealed in 2014, the title generated interest among fans of shoot ’em ups but saw very little public development footage or updates in the years that followed.
In the same announcement, M2 said that veteran designer Hiroshi Iuchi has left the company.
Background and timeline
Ubusuna was first announced in 2014, positioning it as a follow-up in spirit to Ikaruga — the acclaimed shoot ’em up for which Hiroshi Iuchi is best known.
Over the subsequent years, M2 released only sparse information and limited visuals related to the project, and the company has now confirmed that the project will not be moving forward under its current stewardship.
Company statement and personnel changes
In its update, M2 confirmed the cancellation of Ubusuna and additionally stated that Hiroshi Iuchi has departed the studio.
Journalistic restatement: M2 confirmed both the termination of the Ubusuna project and the exit of Iuchi from the company’s roster.
Context on Hiroshi Iuchi and M2
Hiroshi Iuchi is widely recognized in the industry for his work on Ikaruga, and his involvement in Ubusuna was a core reason the title attracted attention.
According to reporting around the announcement, Iuchi’s most recent major project while at M2 was Night Striker Gear.
M2 itself is well known for high-quality retro game ports and emulation work, including projects distributed on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch eShop and collection releases that have appeared in Nintendo Direct presentations and other publisher showcases.
What this means for fans and preservation
With Ubusuna cancelled at M2 and Iuchi no longer with the company, the future of the project in any form under M2 is effectively closed.
M2’s confirmation provides closure on a title that had been in development limbo for more than half a decade.
No further details on rights, potential revival by other parties, or related releases have been provided by M2 at this time.
For those following shoot ’em up development and preservation efforts, the news represents a notable shift: a high-profile, long-anticipated spiritual successor will not reach players through M2, and a prominent designer has left the studio amid the announcement.
First revealed in 2014, the title generated interest among fans of shoot ’em ups but saw very little public development footage or updates in the years that followed.
In the same announcement, M2 said that veteran designer Hiroshi Iuchi has left the company.
Background and timeline
Ubusuna was first announced in 2014, positioning it as a follow-up in spirit to Ikaruga — the acclaimed shoot ’em up for which Hiroshi Iuchi is best known.
Over the subsequent years, M2 released only sparse information and limited visuals related to the project, and the company has now confirmed that the project will not be moving forward under its current stewardship.
Company statement and personnel changes
In its update, M2 confirmed the cancellation of Ubusuna and additionally stated that Hiroshi Iuchi has departed the studio.
Journalistic restatement: M2 confirmed both the termination of the Ubusuna project and the exit of Iuchi from the company’s roster.
Context on Hiroshi Iuchi and M2
Hiroshi Iuchi is widely recognized in the industry for his work on Ikaruga, and his involvement in Ubusuna was a core reason the title attracted attention.
According to reporting around the announcement, Iuchi’s most recent major project while at M2 was Night Striker Gear.
M2 itself is well known for high-quality retro game ports and emulation work, including projects distributed on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch eShop and collection releases that have appeared in Nintendo Direct presentations and other publisher showcases.
What this means for fans and preservation
With Ubusuna cancelled at M2 and Iuchi no longer with the company, the future of the project in any form under M2 is effectively closed.
M2’s confirmation provides closure on a title that had been in development limbo for more than half a decade.
No further details on rights, potential revival by other parties, or related releases have been provided by M2 at this time.
For those following shoot ’em up development and preservation efforts, the news represents a notable shift: a high-profile, long-anticipated spiritual successor will not reach players through M2, and a prominent designer has left the studio amid the announcement.
