Why Did Cuphead‘s DLC Take So Long to Develop?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

Announced in 2018 and originally targeted for 2019, the hugely anticipated Cuphead DLC faced years of delays due to immense pressure on its small development team and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lengthy wait, The Delicious Last Course expansion ultimately delivered on Studio MDHR‘s creative vision – winning critical praise and strong sales.

Small Team Size Led to Unsustainable Workload

With stunning retro hand-drawn visuals, Cuphead instantly stood out for its 1930‘s cartoon style. For Studio MDHR though, crafting such labor-intensive animation and gameplay with only 18 people became creatively taxing:

  • Each animated boss fight took 4-6 months
  • Over 1 hour of new animations added for DLC
  • Total of 15 new complex bosses with evolving mechanics

As delays started piling up, extreme overtime became the studio norm trying to finish this ambitious expansion. The team‘s unchecked passion and perfectionist drive started working against their own mental health. Burnout was inevitable under such intense, sustained pressure with no end in sight.

COVID-19 Severely Disrupted Remote Collaboration

Just as Studio MDHR reset internal deadlines in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck – forcing the team to immediately start working remotely. This radically affected their workflow and productivity:

Collaboration MetricDecrease
Creative riffing and discussionsOver 50%
File transfer speedsUp to 5X slower
Testing build iterations3X fewer

With home internet connectivity issues, lack of physical interactions, and everyone facing their own pandemic struggles, development slowed to a crawl. By July 2020, Studio MDHR had to officially delay the DLC again until post-pandemic recovery.

Worth the Wait for a Cartoon Masterpiece

Despite multiple lengthy delays over 4 years riddling its development, The Delicious Last Course DLC delivered a refined, content-rich expansion true to Cuphead‘s delightful cartoon realm, including:

  • 15 all-new creatively designed boss fights
  • Playable Ms. Chalice with unique abilities
  • Multiple difficulty levels for hardcore replayability
  • Over 1 hour of new hand-drawn animations

Critically, it earned outstanding reviews for this new adventure. Commercially, it rapidly sold 2+ million copies – proving the wait was worth it for fans to return to Cuphead‘s charming world.

For Studio MDHR, their unwavering vision was validated both creatively and financially. More so, the team emerged healthier after learning invaluable lessons about burnout risks – ready to craft more retro-cartoon magic.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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