"It ended up being pretty much co-development" - how 80s anime, a legendary Gundam director and It Takes Two talent combined for the Switch 2's next hit Orbitals
Key Points:
- Orbitals is an upcoming Switch 2 exclusive co-op game that aims to perfectly capture the anime aesthetic, combining hand-painted backgrounds with 3D assets and authentic anime cel animation to create a playable shonen episode experience.
- Developed by Shapefarm, an international team based in Tokyo, Orbitals benefits from collaboration with legendary Japanese animation house Studio Massket, including veteran anime creator Tôru Yoshida for cutscenes.
- The game follows teens Maki and Omura on an interstellar adventure featuring puzzle-solving gameplay focused on unique cooperative tools, distinct from typical platformers and inspired by but differentiated from Hazelight's co-op style.
- Orbitals offers a charming, distraction-filled space hub with unlockable mini-games and anime Easter eggs, emphasizing shared couch moments and memorable co-op experiences as a core design philosophy.
- Nintendo's exclusive backing reflects confidence in Orbitals’ creative vision, with hopes it will stand out as a unique fusion of classic anime nostalgia and engaging multiplayer gameplay over its anticipated eight-hour campaign.