Minion Rush, originally launched in 2013 in collaboration with Illumination and Universal Products & Experiences, released its Massive Update on May 20, introducing significant changes to the game.
The move to the Unity game engine ensures the long-term future of the game by bringing it to a modern, powerful, and scalable platform. After more than a decade of success, we recognized the importance of keeping up with evolving technology to meet the evolving standards in video games.
We sat down with Anastasiia Pogodina, studio UI/UX director; Igor Boiko, lead game designer; Alexandr Soor, lead developer; and Oleksandr Borodin, lead artist, to learn more on what went behind the scenes.
What did you want to achieve with the Massive Update?
Igor: We had several critical objectives: improving the overall stability and performance of the game across a wide range of devices, opening the door for richer visual enhancements, and expanding our ability to create innovative gameplay features and live events. Additionally, we wanted to optimize development workflows, making it easier for our teams to produce high-quality content faster and more efficiently.
To do this, our teams worked cross-functionally across design, engineering, QA, and user experience to identify risks early and prioritize solutions. We built extensive internal test environments and ran multiple rounds of player testing to ensure that gameplay stayed true to its original spirit, even as everything underneath evolved. It was a demanding, detail-intensive process, but the result is a game that not only honors its legacy but also is fully prepared to thrive in the future.
One of the most striking new features is the visual upgrade. Can you tell us about the new art direction?
Oleksandr: We aimed to stylize the design, object geometry, and animations while keeping materials as authentic as possible within the stylistic framework. We drew inspiration from the Minions franchise, and Illumination provided excellent art guides that answered many questions and set us on the right visual path from the start.
How has the art evolved in Minion Rush?
Oleksandr: A great example would be the progress of the Gru Lab level. The initial exports of levels from the legacy version of the game into Unity looked quite rough and most elements needed to be completely redone from scratch.
We decided to rethink the game’s visuals, leaning into the capabilities of the Unity game engine. This was followed by iterations of concept art, where we aimed to fully capture the desired mood, drive, and visual atmosphere of the ported levels.
We then ported obstacles and animations into the game and set up initial material shaders. The atmosphere was already starting to take on the desired vibe, but the visual hierarchy during the action phase was still cluttered and generating noise even with minimal UI.
We managed to implement the lion’s share of elements planned during the concept and mood board stages, while also incorporating visual changes based on feedback from the community involved in the game’s beta testing. In the days leading up to the release, our art board contained around 10,000 images, and nearly every one, whether a reference, concept iteration, or before-and-after comparison, received dedicated time and attention from the team.
Igor: Thanks to the new engine, the environments are now richer, more vibrant, and packed with finer details, creating a more immersive feeling while preserving the bright, colorful charm that players associate with the Minions franchise. Every run feels more dynamic and alive, making players want to dive back into the action again and again.
What was the team most proud of on the technical side?
Alexandr: Minion Rush is filled with many costumes, locations, missions, assets, and legacy systems that were built over the course of more than a decade. Each element had to be carefully evaluated. Could they be preserved as is, improved, or did they require a full rebuild? There were also fundamental differences between the old technology and Unity that demanded deep architectural changes across the entire codebase.
One of the most challenging aspects was optimizing Minion Rush for a wide variety of devices present on the market. We did our best to save visual quality for high and low-end devices without suffering performance and picture loss.
There was also a total rework of the game navigation and UI to make it more modern and to help players better orient themselves.
Was an update to the UI/UX necessary?
Anastasiia: Our decision to update the UI/UX in Minion Rush was an easy one.
With the core mechanics shifting toward an endless-run focus, updated 3D graphics, and new technologies, we realized it was the perfect time to breathe new life into both the UI and user experience.
Interface interactions have become deeply integrated into our lives, and this growing integration has raised the demand for “good” UI/UX higher than ever before. The best UI is one that people barely notice — it quietly solves their problems like an invisible assistant that's always there for you without you realizing it. In other words, the best UI is a combination of user-friendly UX, outstanding UI art, and mind-blowing animation… and you can experience all of that in Minion Rush!
How did the UI/UX change?
Anastasiia: Our brilliant and incredibly talented UI and 2D artists created an entirely new UI style from scratch, so now, everything looks fresh, modern, and vibrant.
We carefully considered every move, keeping the needs of our players at the center of our decisions. We know how much our players adore the Minions, just like us! That’s why the main idea behind the UX redesign was to focus everything around our main characters.
Several features, such as Wardrobe, Collections, and Profile, fully reflect these new goals and approaches. For example, we redesigned the Minion interaction system to make it easier for users to select exactly the costume they want and view it in full screen, allowing them to appreciate all the micro-details our artists crafted with love and passion.
What’s new in terms of gameplay?
Alexandr: With new visuals, the gameplay began to feel different, so we added new game physics and inputs to make it feel extra fun. We also worked on evolving gameplay mechanics. For instance, we introduced new progression systems, diversified motivations, objectives, and more strategic event structures to keep engagement levels high.
Igor: Another area we’re excited about is the introduction of new power-ups and gadgets, which bring even more fun to the game. These additions aren't just functional, they are designed to feel over-the-top, unpredictable, and wildly entertaining. Whether it's a new gadget that changes how you dodge obstacles or a power-up that gives you a hilarious new way to smash through the course, these elements inject a fresh layer of strategy and surprise.
What are your favorite aspects of the update?
Oleksandr: It’s honestly tough to pick one thing since there has been so much, but it was especially rewarding to craft the locations that as fans we’d be excited to run through while earning collectible items.
Working on the visuals for the soft currency was also a proud moment. Even though it was a simple task, they were important because they are prominent throughout the game. They had to be uncompromisingly better, brighter, and more desirable than the legacy version, and I think we pulled it off quite successfully. It’s immensely rewarding to see the progress and evolution of the game’s visuals through all these images.
Anastasiia: The Collection menu is my personal favorite. There’s something incredibly satisfying about how seamlessly you can swipe through costumes while the selected Minion springs to life on the stage with gorgeous animations. It’s that beautiful UX moment when what you want to happen just happens, instantly and naturally, and it makes you fall in love with the game all over again.
Igor: I agree that the expanded Collections system is a deeply beloved addition. Collecting Minions has always been part of the fun, but now it taps even deeper into that nostalgic excitement many of us remember from childhood of completing a full set of toys, trading cards, or figures. It's a feature that resonates emotionally as well as mechanically, giving players long-term goals and a satisfying sense of achievement as they complete their favorite collections.
Any last words to the community?
Igor: The Massive Update is about reaffirming our commitment to our community. We want players, both longtime fans and new recruits, to enjoy a smoother, more polished experience and to know that Minion Rush will continue to grow, surprise, and delight for years to come.
Keeping Minion Rush exciting after all these years has been both a challenge and a passion project for our team. But our philosophy is clear: never stand still. We have so much more in store for our amazing community, and we can’t wait to share them when the time comes!
Download the Massive Update on the App Store or Google Play, and follow Minion Rush on Discord, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up to date! Learn more about the Massive Update in our interview with the game manager, product marketing manager, and game community manager here.
