Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission — Everything We Know

Magic Pockets and Microids have announced Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission, an educational tropical island adventure game set entirely around the fictional world of Maupiroa. A nautical journey at heart, players will be invited to dive deep into its luscious waters and chronicle its every species of fish and long-lost secret. And that's not all, apparently.

So, what more do we know about the newly announced adventure, other than the fact it's being headed up by the same studio that brought My Universe and Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx to the table? Well, here's everything we've been able to gather on it, from its story to its gameplay features. Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission — what is it, and when can we expect to dive into it? Here's what you need to know.

What Is Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission?

Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission is an upcoming third-person educational adventure game by Magic Pockets. Its story, which will take you across the tropical island of Maupiroa, will have you documenting the rarities that swill beneath the shores. And not just that, but the creatures that call the lands their home, all for the sake of fleshing out your codex and coming to grips with marine ecology and its role in the world's infrastructure.

“Embark on an amazing adventure on the tropical island of Maupiroa! Take to the seas and discover the secrets that surround the island! Dive into the ocean’s depths, teeming with life and color, with your dolphin friend Keanu. Learn about marine life and ecology while helping the local environmentalists save the island from impending disaster.”

Story

Going by what we've seen so far, you will play a holidaymaker—a marine-loving islander who's trusted with the task of preserving the creatures that swim beneath the shores of Maupiroa. Together, with your grandfather and the environmentalists that occupy the once-loved haven, you will delve deep into a rich fantasy world chock-full of lore, heritage, and culture.

In Magic Pockets' own words: “Your holiday on the island of Maupiroa is not going to be easy! Fortunately, you can count on your grandfather and the island's inhabitants to lend you a helping hand in your quest. Learn about the folklore and traditions of the island to save it from destruction. Embark on a fantastic adventure and immerse yourself in the heritage of your ancestors to unlock the secrets of magic totems.”

Gameplay

Dolphin Spirit will feature a mixture of vibrant and tropical biomes to explore, as well as an entire nautical realm to dive into. Your purpose, as the newfound keeper of its traditions, is to document the wildlife in your trusty codex and ultimately search for a way to preserve it. In addition to this, you will also be sent to embark on “conversation missions” to help develop your bonds with the friends and associates of Maupiroa.

Going by the blurb, the island of Maupiroa will host “an original story filled with mystery and magic.” To this end, you can half expect to sink into the deep depths of a nautical tale that's rife with species, characters, and dynamic areas swimming with secrets. Oh, and with your trusty sidekick, Keanu the Dolphin, by your side, too.

Development

Magic Pockets, a relatively small firm that's been conjuring up independent titles since 2020, first revealed the educational adventure game on April 17, 2023, at which point it announced its intention to bring the game to all major platforms at some point in Q3 2023. It will be published by Microids, a reputable outfit that has helped breathe life into countless console, mobile, and PC titles.

We can't say for sure how long Dolphin Spirit has been in active development, as Magic Pockets' history is, at least as an independent studio, a little cloudy. That said, its previous game, Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx, did launch back in October 2022, so there's reason to believe it's been under the hammer for at least seven or eight months. But then, don't take our word for it.

Trailer

Curious to know whether or not Magic Pockets has already gone ahead and released a trailer for the upcoming chapter? Bad news there, as there hasn't been anything of the sort come to light since the initial announcement. If anything does pop up, then Magic Pockets will no doubt upload it in the two, maybe three months ahead of its launch. Speaking of which…

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission will be coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam on September 28, 2023. It will also release as a physical copy for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Switch on October 17, 2023.

As with any independent game that finds its way onto Xbox and PlayStation, there is a slight chance it'll launch on either Game Pass or PlayStation Plus. At this point in time, however, nothing of the sort been mentioned. If it does reach either of the two, though, then it'll no doubt receive an announcement over on its official handle here.

It's early days yet, so there are no special or deluxe editions to speak of. Is this subject to change as the months draw on? In theory, yes, though nothing seems to suggest there will be anything outside of the standard version on consoles and PC.

Anyway, if you're wanting to keep tabs on all things Dolphin Spirit, you can follow the official social feed here. If anything interesting surfaces ahead of its September release, we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission when it drops later this year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.