After a surprise reveal at the PlayStation State of Play on June 2nd, Mintrocket wasted no time giving fans a proper look at Bancho the Chef, a standalone prequel to the smash hit Dave the Diver. During the studio’s own Dev Dive showcase, Head of Studio Jaeho Hwang offered the most detailed peek yet at what players can expect when they step into the younger shoes of the fan-favorite chef.
The game transports players back 19 years to a time before Bancho’s legendary status and, crucially, before he lost his hair. Set against a backdrop of bustling Asian cities, the story follows a young Bancho as he travels from region to region, apprenticing under local chefs and mastering the art of seafood cuisine from a diverse cast of culinary masters.
In each location, Bancho takes a position under a local chef, learns their signature dishes, and serves customers in their restaurant. But cooking alone won’t be enough. Players will need to venture out into the world to forage and gather region-specific ingredients, echoing the exploration DNA of the original game. Once Bancho has sufficiently honed his craft in a city, he faces a local culinary challenge before moving on to the next destination, carrying hard-earned skills with him.
Mintrocket has confirmed PlayStation 5 and PC as the primary platforms. PS5 players in particular have something to look forward to: the game will make extensive use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, designed to simulate the physical sensation of real cooking techniques.
A launch date has yet to be announced, with Mintrocket promising more gameplay reveals and details in the months ahead.