The frog-centric 3D platformer Big Hops is expanding its cooperative capabilities with the new 'Big Hops Together' update. This major revision introduces an eight-player co-op mode that allows the entire campaign to be played with a full squad of amphibious adventurers. The update is available now in beta, with a full release scheduled for August 9.
The core gameplay mechanic of Big Hops, where players utilize a frog's tongue as a grappling hook, takes on new tactical dimensions with eight players. The developers at Luckshot Games have highlighted possibilities such as snatching items from friends' inventory bags or tethering to teammates, similar to mechanics seen in games like 'Chained Together,' but with the ability to disengage before a companion leads them into danger.
Chris Wade of Luckshot Games described the update as a "full rewrite" of the game's systems, a complex and time-intensive undertaking that required four months of dedicated development. Wade cited inspiration from unofficial multiplayer mods for Nintendo titles, specifically a Mario Odyssey online mod that recontextualizes familiar levels for multiplayer and a Mario 64 co-op mod that allowed players to join maps seamlessly. He expressed a desire to create a commercial game experience based on the potential demonstrated by these fan-made modifications.
Big Hops Together will feature shared story and collection progress for players tackling the campaign as a group, aiming to streamline the cooperative experience. The game's original premise centers on a frog capable of using its tongue for traversal and interaction, a feature that distinguishes it in the platformer genre.