Cave scraps Vita titles as COO resigns

Questions are being asked about the future of shmup specialist Cave.

Andriasang reports that the studio has cancelled both of its previously announced Vita titles – one a social game and the other an unknown shooter.

In addition, the company has also confirmed that VP and COO Miko Watanabe is to resign from his position. Citing personal reasons, Watanabe will step down from his post on may 31st.

He will continue to serve as representative director until Cave’s AGM in August and will remains as the sole representative director beyond this date.

The emergence of new markets such as the Apple App Store and Xbox Live Arcade had seemingly breathed new life into the firm.

Indeed, it’s comparatively high price iOS apps have proven critically popular though the consensus is that sales have fallen short of expectations.

This leaves Cave in a tough position. It abandoned digital releases on consoles in favour of a joint iOS and boxed console release strategy. But despite early success with the likes of Deathsmiles, recent releases have fared less well – Xbox 360 title Akai Katana failed to enter the Top 40 or single format chart upon its release last week.

In Cave’s favour, however, it has never been scared to alter its strategy to try and adapt to changing markets. Just last month, for instance, it introduced in-app-payment options into iOS title DoDonPachi Blissful Death – irking fans of the genre.

Rumours that Cave was to exit the shmup genre altogether earlier this year, although the developer moved to dismiss the claims shortly after.