Two Cuphead Projects, One Expanding Universe
Studio MDHR’s new Cuphead projects refer to a pair of games in parallel development—a hand-animated mainline follow-up and an 8-bit platformer spin-off—designed to grow the series while experimenting with different visual and gameplay styles for longtime fans and newcomers. At Summer Game Fest, the studio confirmed a brand-new Cuphead new game in early development, revealed only through a stylized stop-motion teaser. No title, footage, or release window was shared, underlining how early this mainline project is. Alongside it, Studio MDHR pulled back the curtain on Mighty Cuphead Adventure, a retro 8-bit action platformer that reimagines Cuphead and Mugman as old-school run-and-gun heroes. This dual announcement marks the first major expansion of the franchise since the original Cuphead and its Delicious Last Course expansion, signaling that Cuphead is now a broader universe rather than a single, solitary title.
The Next Mainline Cuphead: Early Days, Classic Identity
The unnamed Cuphead new game is positioned as the next mainline entry, carrying forward the hand-animated platformer identity that defined the original. Studio MDHR confirmed the project is in the “early stages” of development, with no gameplay footage, subtitle, or even a clear indication of whether it will be called Cuphead 2. That absence of detail suggests a long runway ahead, but also hints at the studio giving itself room to rethink bosses, levels, and structure without being locked into sequel expectations. What seems non‑negotiable is the commitment to hand animation, which remains central to how Cuphead expresses personality, timing, and difficulty. Fans can likely expect another meticulous, frame-by-frame production, even if it means a long wait between updates, especially given that the previous expansion arrived years after the base game.
Mighty Cuphead Adventure: An 8-bit Spin-Off With Retro Rules
Mighty Cuphead Adventure is the complementary Cuphead spin-off, and it plays by a very different rulebook. Built by a smaller team inside Studio MDHR, this action platformer trades the 1930s cartoon aesthetic for a full 8-bit makeover. According to FullCleared, the game was “programmed in classic Assembly Language and designed to the specifications of the Sega Master System,” which signals a serious commitment to authenticity rather than a surface-level pixel filter. The result is a Cuphead experience that leans into tight, run-and-gun platforming across consoles and PC, while echoing the look and rhythm of an older hardware era. No launch window has been set, but the project appears further along than the new mainline title, suggesting Mighty Cuphead Adventure could be the next way fans spend time with Cuphead and Mugman before the larger sequel lands.
Why Parallel Development Matters for Cuphead Fans
By developing two distinct Cuphead projects at once, Studio MDHR is setting up a twin-track future for the series. The mainline hand-animated platformer keeps the core identity intact: elaborate bosses, expressive animation, and precise challenge. Mighty Cuphead Adventure, meanwhile, expands the franchise sideways, speaking to players who love retro difficulty, 8-bit visuals, or more traditional action platformers. For fans, that means different flavors of Cuphead rather than a single, monolithic sequel cycle. It also gives Studio MDHR room to experiment with scope and pacing: a smaller spin-off can arrive sooner and more often, while the flagship hand-drawn game can take the time it needs. If both projects succeed, Cuphead’s world could evolve into a flexible platform where style, format, and hardware-era homages change—but the mischievous spirit of Cuphead and Mugman stays constant.
