It’s about to get hot in the kitchen. Set the timer, because on March 31st Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is serving up. This concoction of quality ingredients looks set to please the fussiest appetite, and it was our pleasure to sit down and talk recipes with Krzysztof Wojdyła, Marketing and PR manager at the Łódź-based studio responsible for this tasty treat—the aptly named Big Cheese Studio.
The first course of the franchise, Cooking Simulator, was a single-player kitchen playground, devoured by gamers on its release in 2019. In career mode you could master 80+ dishes, or go wild in the Sandbox and improvise to your heart’s content. A second course was required to satisfy gamers’ hunger, but this sequel is no reheated repeat. This time you can share your kitchen—thanks to the all-new online co-op mode. “Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is about cooking as an experience you can enjoy your way—either solo or together,” Krzysztof explains. “Players prepare dishes, manage a kitchen, and handle all the unexpected moments that come with cooking, independently or side by side with others. It’s designed both for fans of the original game, and for new players looking for a fun, accessible cooperative game to enjoy with friends or family.”
For those who prefer a kitchen to themselves, be assured the refined single-player experience is more satisfying than ever. You cook at your own pace, and draw on the same systems designed for co-op. For those who like a little company while they create, Big Cheese has really put in the work. “We looked at cooperative games that create memorable social moments,” Krzysztof says, “and realistic simulators that reward mastery, and we asked how we could merge those two philosophies. The physics-based gameplay, improved realism, and shared kitchen experience set it apart from more solitary or purely menu-driven simulation titles. Players can look forward to a rebuilt cooking experience with co-op added at its core. That includes enhanced physics, more interactive kitchens, expanded recipes, a full blueprint system which allows you to create your own dishes, and the thrill of coordinating tasks with another player in real time. Whether it’s perfectly timed service, or laughing when something goes wrong, the game is built around memorable moments.”
Memorable moments can be encouraged, but not manufactured, and Big Cheese makes cooperation feel natural, not forced. “The team spent a lot of time refining interactions, balance, and pacing so that players of different skill levels can still enjoy cooking,” Krzysztof affirms. “It’s not just ‘the same game with multiplayer added’; it’s been rethought from the ground up with teamwork in mind.” From the ground up is quite a rethink, but having got it so right with the first Cooking Simulator, Big Cheese knew what they wanted, and where to focus efforts. “A major challenge was synchronizing physics-heavy gameplay in a cooperative environment,” Krzysztof explains. “Cooking Simulator is known for its detailed object interactions and making that work smoothly for multiple players required significant technical iteration. The team overcame this by optimizing systems, reworking certain mechanics, and extensive playtesting to ensure stability without sacrificing fun.”
No sacrifices have been made in putting together this menu for gamer satisfaction, and that, of course, includes performance. “Performance is critical because the game relies on physics, simulation depth, and real-time cooperation,” Krzysztof says. “Smooth performance ensures precision, responsiveness, and immersion—especially in co-op sessions. The best way to experience the game is on a modern PC that can fully take advantage of advanced features like upscaling technologies, ensuring high frame-rates and visual clarity even during the most hectic kitchen moments.” Consider Intel your sous-chef, in this case, ready to help the head chef create their best dish.
“Our collaboration with Intel has been a great example of how technology partnerships can directly benefit players,” Krzysztof enthuses. “Integrating Intel Xe Super Sampling 1.2 allows us to offer better performance and image quality across a wide range of hardware, which aligns perfectly with our PC-first approach. Intel’s tools and technical support also helped the team identify bottlenecks, better understand hardware behavior, and fine-tune the implementation of advanced features like XeSS. That kind of direct collaboration saves development time and results in a smoother experience for players.”
We’re all for a smooth-running kitchen. So what’s next for Big Cheese Studio after dinner is served on March 31st? “Our focus is on supporting Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together long-term,” Krzysztof says. “Listening closely to community feedback, and expanding the experience with updates and new content. At the same time, Big Cheese Studio is always exploring new ideas within the simulation space. We’re excited about the future and committed to delivering experiences that bring people together both in and out of the kitchen.” Bon Appétit, gamers!
Wishlist Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together on Steam