Dave The Diver creator talks about the future of the franchise

Important takeaways

If you thought Dave the Diver was a throwaway game, think again.
That's because series creator Jaeho Hwang has revealed that he has plans to greatly expand the Dave the Diver universe, effectively creating the DCU – Dave Cinematic Universe.
Other IPs around the world are getting similar treatment, with Nintendo seemingly creating their own cinematic universe and Friday the 13th creating the Jason Universe.

Dave the Diver was one of the best titles of 2023, mixing unique visuals with some addictive game mechanics. And if collaborations and crossovers with the likes of Godzilla and Balatro weren't enough content, then its creators want to expand the world greatly.

In an interview with Video Games Chronicle, series creator Jaeho Hwang revealed that he has huge plans for the future of the budding franchise. These plans actually involve creating a DCU, or Dave Cinematic Universe. “So as a director, in addition to the story DLC that we're working on right now, I also want to make separate games about each character to show how they met, what they did before they came to the Blue Hole,” Hwang said.

These separate games will seemingly be different genres, according to Hwang, with Title Dave eventually getting its own themed game. “I really want to show how he grew up, and how he became a diver, and how he ended up in the Blue Hole,” he said.

It's a bold vision, for sure, but given how successful the base IP was and still is, they can definitely pull it off. That said, the DCU isn't the only universe being plotted.

Dave the Diver key art pops up from the Nintendo Switch screen

Family

Dave The Diver made me finally fall in love with my switch

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We are in The Era Of The Cinematic Universe

In addition to Dave the Diver potentially getting its own pseudo Cinematic Universe, several other franchise creators have revealed their own plans to turn a base IP into an interconnected world.

In early May, Chris Pratt revealed that he is on board with the idea of a Nintendo Cinematic Universe. That universe will seemingly kick-start with Super Mario Bros. 2 movie. That film is slated for an April 2026 release.

Then it was announced that Horror, Inc. was launching the Jason Universe. The universe, which is centered around the Friday the 13th villain, will include entertainment, games, immersive experiences.

In other words, if an IP has any lingering potential, a cinematic universe is likely in the works. But as the original DCU – the DC Cinematic Universe – showed us, some ideas are better left as just that. Ideas.