Strap on your aprons, don your chef’s hat, and get ready to cook up some delicious food, Cooking Mama is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch.
A trademark filed in Australia has revelead that a new game in the franchise, title Cooking Mama: Coming Home to Mama, will come to the Switch later this year–though the game has been right under our noses for months. Despite the game not having an official announcement yet, it seems that a press release from publisher Planet Digital Partners all the way back in February laid out the plans for the use of blockchain technology in the game.
Based on the limited description available, the game will once again feature both traditional and motion controls while preparing recipes, taking advantage of the Switch’s Joy-con technology. The game will even include a “Vegetarian Mode,” offering its own recipes that are entirely meatless. Aside from the standard single-player gameplay, it seems that Cooking Mama: Coming Home to Mama will have a major focus on multiplayer, which is where the blockchain technology comes into play.
Blockchain technology is generally associated with cryptocurrency, so its use in the realm of video games is certainly unique. Essentially, using the blockchain technology will allow each copy of Cooking Mama: Coming Home to Mama to contain a unique ID code, which will be stored in the game’s memory. Using this unique ID for DRM prevents the game from being copied, most likely to deter piracy.
There is more to using the blockchain tech than just preventing piracy, however. The development team has found ways to implement it into the actual gameplay. Every ID key is used in the game’s algorithms to provide a slightly different experience for every player, subtly changing up characters, cooking methods, and ingredients. Players can also be tracked through their code during special events, which will allow their progress to be recorded and ultimately earn rewards for participating. These rewards come in the form of experience points, items, and in-game currency. It’s even possible for third-party companies to utilize the ID for tournaments.
Cooking Mama has always been about light-hearted fun, with a cute art style and simple, but engaging gameplay. Players take on the role of a chef, cooking a variety of meals under the instruction of Mama, the game’s central character. Recipes are prepared through a series of minigames that involve sauteing food in pans, chopping vegetables, and so on, and ultimately putting it all on a plate to finish the meal.
It was only a matter of time before Cooking Mama returned, and the Switch is the perfect place for it. There’s no official release date, but according to the earlier press release, it will be available in fall of this year. Let’s hope Nintendo shows off some gameplay soon.