Our contributor connected with M. Panda (a. k. a. Michael “Mikey” McNamara), CEO of Rocket Panda Games, to discuss Cresata, its development, and fan reactions at Anime Expo 2026.
Introducing Cresata to the World
Michael: Anime Expo has always been a place where fans gather to celebrate new ideas and creative projects. What does it mean to introduce Cresata to audiences during such an exciting moment for the anime and gaming communities?
M. Panda: So much work goes into a game before we introduce it to the world, and there’s a combination of excitement and anxiety leading up to the big reveal. “How will the fans react?” “What if they hate it?” “Did we invest our time and resources into the right project!?”
Michael: For readers who may be hearing about Cresata for the first time, how would you describe the heart of the project? What makes it distinct from other titles currently in development?
M. Panda: Cresata is a love letter to timeless games that respect players’ skill. The kind of game we wish big studios still made. It’s a game that rewards players with a kind of satisfaction that cannot be earned any other way than defeating a boss that they thought was impossible 20 minutes ago.
Michael: Rocket Panda Games has built strong relationships with Japanese creators and global audiences alike. In what ways does Cresata reflect the company’s philosophy and long-term vision?
M.Panda: The ties to Japanese creators and global audiences is in the very DNA of Rocket Panda Games. Cresata is the brainchild of a small dev team in Nor-Cal, but has been reborn through the partnership with Rocket Panda Games and the cross-cultural resources it brings to the table.
We have a Nor-Cal based Director and Engineer, combined with a diverse team of engineers and artists based all across Japan. Really, we’re getting the best of both worlds.
Aleks Le, Ben Starr, and Building Cresata
Michael: The announcement that Aleks Le and Ben Starr will appear in Cresata generated tremendous excitement among fans. How did those collaborations come about, and what made them the right choices for the project?
M. Panda: It was a very exciting moment for Rocket Panda Games, as well. I happened to know Aleks Le from the various Demon Slayer events we attended, and Aleks Le was looking for projects that involved “more” than being a Voice Actor. One thing led to another, and we offered Aleks the role of Co-Producer and Voice Over Director on the project, and he immediately texted Ben Starr, “Hey, I want to cast you in a video game.”
Michael: Both Aleks Le and Ben Starr have become beloved figures among anime and gaming audiences through works such as Solo Leveling, Street Fighter 6, Demon Slayer, Final Fantasy XVI, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. What unique energy or perspective do they bring to Cresata?
M. Panda: This energy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfcgTh7ASlM
But seriously, they have added a lot of creative insight to the project, based on their experience as actors and as gamers.
Fan Reactions at Anime Expo 2026
Michael: Without revealing too much, are there any memorable moments from working with Aleks Le and Ben Starr that stand out to you during the development process so far?
M. Panda: A lot of the voices remain to be recorded… AKA: we haven’t gotten to the “meat” of our production yet, LOL.
That said, our Anime Expo panel was an absolute blast. Aleks and Ben were professional but approachable enough that we packed our room with over 300 people and had to turn away another 300. 😭
We will be back in 2027 in a bigger panel room. You heard it here first.
The Road to a 2027 Release
Michael: Many fans are already eager to learn more about Cresata’s future. Can you share anything about the roadmap for the project and what players can look forward to over the coming months and years?
M. Panda: I would say the game is about 60% complete at the moment, and we’re targeting a 2027 release. The team is planning a Kickstarter campaign sometime later this (2026) year, but details are being figured out as I type the responses to this interview.
We do plan to attend more events, including Gamescom, and will have a demo to coincide with our Kickstarter campaign; however, that is about all, even I, know at the moment.
Michael: Many modern players enjoy following a game’s development journey as much as the finished product itself. How transparent do you hope to be with fans as Cresata continues to grow?
M. Panda: We hope to be as transparent as we can while dedicating our resources to actually “making” the game. It’s a fine balancing act between making and sharing, and we don’t want to shift too much focus away from the actual development.
Starting with the Kickstarter, however, the plan is to reveal more of “how the sausage is made” to our community and fans.
Michael: Rocket Panda Games has long emphasized building communities around its titles. What role do fan feedback and player passion play in shaping the future direction of Cresata?
M. Panda: We value fan feedback a lot, and read the comments. However, we cannot lean too heavily into fan feedback to a point where we lose sight of our own vision. So it comes down to a balance.
Fans have great insight as gamers but there are often constraints we face on the development side that simply cannot be overcome with passion and energy alone. (AKA: it costs time and money that we may not have).
So we are faced with some very difficult decisions during development.
Rocket Panda Games’ Message to Fans
Michael: Finally, what message would you like to share with Anime Expo attendees and with readers of Anime Diet who are following the journey of Cresata and supporting Rocket Panda Games’ newest adventure?
M. Panda: As the names of our past Anime Expo panels suggest, “Making Games is Hard.” We’re a small team with a limited budget, and we’re doing the best we can.
I saw a post on Reddit recently, where someone commented “But the kickstarter page isn’t even live yet, so if this does come out I wouldn’t expect it before 2032,” to which someone came to our defense, “It’s by Rocket Panda, they’ve released loads of games and this is probably way further on than you think.”
I’ll leave their name anonymous for the sake of privacy, but this comment meant way more than you think. Thank you.
