Summary of potential future developments and changes for Japanese game company CAVE (known for its bullet hell/shmup games), based on the latest publicly available information:
1. Continued strengthening and expansion of existing popular IPs
CAVE has explicitly stated its intention to strengthen the promotion and operation of its well-known game IPs (such as *Touhou Gensou Eclipse*, *Gothic wa Mahou Otome*, etc.), including:
Continuously releasing new content updates and events (e.g., anniversary events, new characters/collaboration events) to attract and retain more players and encourage spending.
Utilizing popular characters for guest appearances or crossovers in other games to increase brand exposure.
Expanding overseas market promotion, such as releasing physical or localized versions of classic bullet hell games.
2. Development of new game projects and collaborations with major studios
CAVE is currently developing a large-scale new project (tentatively called "Kamitsuku Project"), which features:
Participation from renowned industry producers (such as former Capcom designer Funamizu Noritaka and musician Shimomura Yoko).
The game type is not traditional bullet hell, but a completely new combat gameplay ("plunder battle game"), potentially representing CAVE's diversification into different game genres.
This means CAVE is no longer limited to classic bullet hell games, but is trying out more diverse game styles.
3. Actively improving existing game experience based on player feedback
CAVE has conducted an internal evaluation of the performance of its newly released mobile games (such as Meteor Arena) and plans to continuously optimize game content, gameplay balance, and functionality based on player feedback to improve popularity and retention rates.
4. Enhanced overseas market presence and physical releases
In the past, CAVE primarily operated in Japan, but in recent years it has begun to:
Release physical game cartridges/versions in Europe and other regions.
Place greater emphasis on market promotion for global players.
In the future, this type of overseas release, localization support, and brand expansion is expected to become commonplace.
5. Leveraging well-known IPs and teams for cross-industry development
With CAVE's collaborations with top industry developers, future possibilities include:
New games across different IPs (e.g., combining classic characters with new gameplay structures).
Stronger narrative and musical expression to improve the quality and appeal of their works. Summary: Key areas of potential future changes for CAVE
Strengthening existing IPs: Continuous content updates, collaborative events, and overseas promotion
Developing new games: New major titles (such as the Kamitsuku Project)
Optimizing player experience: Adjusting game mechanics based on feedback
Market expansion: Overseas physical releases and localization
Expanding team collaborations: Cross-industry innovation with major developers