Mintrocket unveiled Bancho the Chef, the new title set in the universe of Dave the Diver. Rather than serving as downloadable content, the project is being developed as a standalone title centered on one of the series' most popular characters, Bancho. According to Mintrocket, Bancho consistently ranked among the most popular characters in fan polls, helping inspire the decision to create a dedicated game focused on his story.

A Prequel Set 19 Years Before Dave the Diver
Bancho the Chef takes place in 2004, approximately 19 years before the events of Dave the Diver. The game explores Bancho's life before he became a renowned sushi master.

The story follows his travels across Asia as he studies under accomplished chefs and develops his culinary skills. The game combines cooking-focused gameplay with RPG and adventure elements, offering a look at the character's formative years.

Cooking, Exploration, and Side Activities
Cooking remains the central gameplay mechanic, with players preparing dishes under time constraints while mastering techniques learned throughout Bancho's journey.

Beyond the kitchen, the game also features a variety of side activities. Footage and details revealed during the announcement highlighted additional gameplay elements such as fishing and interactions with cats, adding a lighter and more relaxed dimension to the experience.

Moving from Pixel Art to 3D
One of the most noticeable changes is the visual presentation. Unlike the pixel-art style of Dave the Diver, Bancho the Chef adopts fully 3D graphics, allowing for more detailed environments, character animations, and cooking sequences.

Mintrocket also stated that the game is being developed for PlayStation 5 and plans to utilize the console's DualSense features, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, to enhance the feel of cooking and other gameplay interactions.