MINTROCKET's global hit DAVE THE DIVER received its biggest content expansion yet, "In the Jungle," launching simultaneously across PC and consoles on June 18, 2026. The reception has been unusually strong for an expansion: the DLC landed a Metacritic score of 86 and an OpenCritic score of 92 (PC), while Steam's concurrent player count more than doubled from roughly 20,000 to a peak of 47,222.
Quick Facts
| DLC name | DAVE THE DIVER - In the Jungle Content Pack |
|---|---|
| Developer/Publisher | MINTROCKET (a Nexon studio) |
| Release date | June 18, 2026 (simultaneous worldwide) |
| Metacritic | 86 (PC) |
| OpenCritic | 92 (PC) |
| Base game Metacritic | 90 (for reference) |
| Content length | 10+ hours of new story/content |
| Steam App ID | 4394810 |
| Requirement | Must complete the DAVE THE DIVER base campaign first |
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Developer Info
| Studio | MINTROCKET |
|---|---|
| Director | Jaeho Hwang (Head of Studio / Game Director) |
| Parent company | Nexon |
| Headquarters | Seoul, South Korea |
| Flagship title | DAVE THE DIVER (2023), 8M+ units sold worldwide |
What's New
The expansion trades the familiar Blue Hole setting for an entirely new freshwater ecosystem. Dave and his crew travel to the jungle village of Utara to investigate a mysterious anomaly, descending beneath a lake to uncover a hidden ancient civilization.
Key new content
- ▶Freshwater Lake: A completely new ecosystem and ingredient set, with hidden dangers lurking in an ancient underwater civilization
- ▶Bancho Grill: A new restaurant that swaps raw seafood for grilled jungle ingredients, while keeping the core Bancho Sushi-style gameplay loop intact
- ▶Utara Village: A relationship system with wary villagers who can be won over with gifts and good cooking
- ▶Ancient temples and eerie forests: Additional exploration zones beyond the village and lake
Ecosystem interactions — new freshwater creature behavior
Director Jaeho Hwang said in an interview that base-game sea creatures had "limited" attack patterns, but Amazonian freshwater fish allowed for far more aggressive, bizarre behavior.
| Creature | New behavior |
|---|---|
| Catfish | Full-swallow attack pattern |
| Electric eel | Shocks deal splash damage to nearby fish |
| Sturgeon | Ranged attack — shoots stones from its mouth |
| Piranha | Smells blood and swarms in groups |
Score Breakdown — Unusually Strong for an Expansion
| Metric | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic (PC) | 86 |
| OpenCritic (PC) | 92 / high critic recommendation rate |
| Steam user rating | "Mostly Positive" |
| Base game Metacritic (PC) | 90 |
| Base game OpenCritic (PC) | 90 |
Expansions typically face tougher scrutiny than base games, often dismissed as mere extensions rather than fresh experiences. "In the Jungle" defies that pattern — several critics noted it's polished enough to have shipped as a standalone release.
Community Reaction
""It's an expansion, but it feels as fresh as the base game. They built an almost entirely different game around the jungle concept." — Steam review sentiment
""This wasn't made to just break even — this was made with real intent." — Reported sentiment via Inven Global
The sales impact was immediate: DAVE THE DIVER jumped to #14 in global Steam sales and #4 in Korea right after the DLC's launch. Peak concurrent players more than doubled, from roughly 20,000 pre-launch to 47,222.
Live-Action Trailer — A Sharknado Collaboration
To promote the DLC, MINTROCKET partnered with The Asylum, the production company behind the Sharknado franchise, on a live-action short film. The trailer was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, who helmed the Sharknado series, and features live-action versions of Dave, Cobra, and Bancho heading into the jungle.
Platform Availability
| Platform | Supported | |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) | ✅ | |
| PlayStation 4 / 5 | ✅ | |
| Xbox One / Xbox Series X\ | S | ✅ |
| Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 | ✅ | |
| macOS | ✅ |
Language support includes English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, German, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, and Russian.
Buying Guide
- ▶Prerequisite: You must finish the DAVE THE DIVER base campaign before "In the Jungle" content unlocks
- ▶Ultimate Edition owners: The DLC is already included — no separate purchase needed
- ▶New players: The base game is reasonably priced, so bundling it with the DLC is the recommended entry point
- ▶Platform choice: PC (Steam) tends to get patches and discounts fastest, though console versions launched day-and-date with no content gap
How Far Can DAVE THE DIVER Go?
The base game has already surpassed 8 million units sold worldwide. With this expansion's strong reception driving renewed sales momentum, the industry is now watching whether DAVE THE DIVER could become the first Korean game to reach 10 million units sold — a milestone insiders are calling "Mythic" status. The expansion is being held up as a textbook case of a high-quality DLC reigniting both base-game sales and new player acquisition.
GamePeak will continue tracking future DAVE THE DIVER updates and DLC announcements.