Cuteness Overload: ‘Neko Atsume Purrfect Kitty Collector’ Now Available on Meta Quest

|

Dec 14, 2023

|

Neko Atsume has been letting people collect and admire digital cats for nearly a decade. And starting today, you can pick them up and give them a cuddle, too!

Neko Atsume Purrfect Kitty Collector is the latest game in the popular Neko Atsume series, which has netted 30 million downloads to date. Now, you can play with 46 charming cats in fully immersive VR or bring them into your physical space with MR on Meta Quest 3 and Pro.

We sat down with Hit-Point developers Fuka Nakamura and Ryo Shintani to learn more.

To kick us off, please introduce yourselves.

Ryo Shintani: Yes, my name is Shintani, and I am in charge of supervising the entire Neko Atsume series and project manager.

Fuka Nakamura: My name is Nakamura, a planner. I’m involved in the planning and production of Neko Atsume Purrfect Kitty Collector, as well as event-related activities.

What’s your favorite cat character?

Shintani: I like a cat called Sunny. I like it because it’s similar to a cat I used to have.

Nakamura: I also like Snowball, which is the same kind of cat I used to have. He appears in the game’s key art and in the tutorial.

For those who are unfamiliar, tell us about the Neko Atsume series.

Shintani: The background of the original development was very simple. In 2014, we released an app version of the game, which slowly became known by word of mouth. The game has now been downloaded more than 30 million times, and it has been adapted into a live-action movie and a VR version. And today, the latest version of the game launched on Meta Quest.

Nakamura: From the beginning, our concept has been “to be loosely enjoyable,” and that theme has remained unchanged throughout the series. I would be happy if more people could enjoy the “looseness” and “healing” of the cats in various ways.

What can players look forward to with the Quest version?

Shintani: The basic system is the same as in the previous versions, in which cats gather together when you place “snacks” and “goodies” in the yard to heal them. But a major feature of the Meta Quest version is that you can now experience interaction with cats by petting and cuddling them. In addition to the more than 40 species of “ordinary cats” that have appeared in the past, new species will also appear.

Nakamura: In addition to new features that make it easier to interact with your favorite cats, the Meta Quest version has improved graphics performance, allowing for more detailed expressions. In addition to cute cat-like movements and comical facial expressions, the new version of Meta Quest is characterized by the inclusion of many gestures that cat lovers will find irresistible. For example, the so-called “navel-ten,” in which the cat relaxes comfortably by showing its navel when you pet it, was incorporated during the development process. We believe that we were able to create a game that is more friendly and relaxing, while maintaining the world view of Neko Atsume. We hope you will try to create your own cat paradise.

Did you run into any challenges developing for MR?

Nakamura: When I first imagined playing Neko Atsume in mixed reality, I thought, “That would be fun!” However, there were many challenges and difficulties in actually developing the game, starting with learning MR and development terminology, as well as technical knowledge.

Shintani: The change from 2D to 3D was much more difficult than we had imagined, and although our experience creating VR versions for other platforms was the basis, it was almost like a complete rewrite. We went through a lot of trial and error in pursuit of the Neko Atsume style and reality. By making major modifications to image quality and behavior, we were able to bring the cats closer together, making it easier to experience the realism that only MR can provide. The main members of the development team were six people, and including other people involved, we were a team of about a dozen or so. However, we received ideas from various people outside the team, and I think we were able to create a good product through the concerted efforts of the entire company.

Nakamura: Another significant factor was that the development staff were cat lovers. We were blessed with an environment where cat lovers developed cat games for cat lovers. When we had online meetings, we would sometimes see a cat owned by one of our staff members in the picture, which made us feel happy and relaxed. Of course, there were many hardships, but looking back, I am grateful that I was able to enjoy the work.

If people take one thing away from this blog post or the game itself, what do you hope that would be?

Nakamura: I really want people from all walks of life to play this game, including not only cat lovers but also people who cannot keep cats due to their physical constitution or environment. Neko Atsume was originally developed with the intention of making it a game that could be enjoyed in a relaxed manner, and “healing” is a major theme of the game. Complex and spectacular games and games with challenging elements are good, but we would like people to enjoy games that provide a little “healing” time in their busy daily lives. I think these are the games that are needed in this day and age.

Shintani: I want people to enjoy “healing” as much as I do, but I hope we can continue to make them more! We’re in the process of planning various things, including updates to the Meta Quest version. Also, Neko Atsume will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year. I hope that this article will help as many people as possible to learn about Neko Atsume and enjoy the world of Neko Atsume.