Fighting Big Tech With a Shinkansen: The Accidental Radicalism of Denshattack
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Undercoders discusses how their upcoming train combat game, Denshattack, accidentally became a sharp critique of modern big tech, artificial intelligence, and corporate greed.
Most arcade action games lean into pure escapism, but the upcoming Denshattack accidentally hit a little too close to home. In a recent interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, developer Undercoders discussed how their high-speed train combat game morphed into a critique of modern corporate culture. While prototyping began back in 2022, the team naturally gravitated toward a near-future setting plagued by mass surveillance, intrusive artificial intelligence, and oppressive tech monopolies. Players assemble a crew of Japanese countercultural rebels and ram high-speed locomotives straight into enemy mechas, blending goofy arcade energy with an genuinely upbeat, anti-corporate message.
Studio representatives noted that these themes arose organically rather than from a strict political checklist. When building a world inspired by skating culture and rebellious biker gangs, tapping into anti-establishment sentiments happens almost by default. It is a strange phenomenon for Undercoders, who previously targeted games industry monetization models and predatory microtransactions in their 2019 satirical metroidvania, SuperEpic: The Entertainment War. Much like that earlier project, which accidentally predicted the messy collision of crypto crashes and post-lockdown studio layoffs years in advance, Denshattack has managed to capture the exact frustrations of today's digital landscape without ever feeling like a cynical lecture.
For players navigating a gaming and entertainment ecosystem increasingly dominated by massive conglomerates and algorithmic content, Denshattack offers a refreshing brand of optimism. It channels the DIY spirit of classic skateboarding titles, treating the virtual world as a space to reclaim rather than just another product to consume. By combining fast-paced action with a distinct countercultural heart, the game proves that fighting back against corporate excess can still be an absolute blast. Keep an eye on this one as it barrels toward release, because it just might be the cathartic ride we need right now.
Tags: Denshattack, Undercoders, Indie Games, Rock Paper Shotgun, Gaming Culture
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun