Zero escape And AI: Somnium files creator Kotaro Uchikoshi announced the creation of CRASH KEYS (1 article)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/crash-keys”>CRASH KEYS, a new game studio headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
Building on Uchikoshi’s experience and creative vision, CRASH KEYS is moving forward with new, original projects, aiming to create “deeply moving and memorable experiences for gamers around the world.”
To advance its projects and build a commercial base, CRASH KEYS is currently seeking investment partners who share the studio’s vision and want to help bring its creative ambitions to life. It encourages interested companies and investors to learn about its business strategy, project concepts and investment opportunities.
The studio’s slogan is: “Some locks can only be opened with broken keys. All creation begins with destruction. Crush your old, rusty keys. Beyond the door lies a world still unseen. We crush the keys. Break conventions to unlock the unknown.”
In a message on TwitterUchikoshi explained that the studio itself was actually established in March 2025 and “the game that our entire team had poured heart and soul into for about a year and a half was suddenly canceled”, so he decided to announce his new studio today instead of in 2027, as originally planned, in the hopes of finding new investors. Here is his message in its entirety:
Hello everyone, how are you? Honestly, I’m not doing well at all… Why, you ask…? Because the game that our entire team had poured heart and soul into for about a year and a half was suddenly canceled…!! I mean, I lost my job overnight. Talk about a thunderclap coming out of nowhere…
So I decided to make an announcement now. To see if anyone might be interested in working with us or investing in our projects. And here is the announcement.
I actually started a business in March of last year. It is a game studio specializing in the design, production and narrative writing of video games. (And…just between us, it’s also a secret organization dedicated to protecting world peace.)
The name is… “CRASH KEYS”!!
My original plan was to reveal CRASH KEYS when we announced our new game. It was supposed to happen next year… in 2027. But then the whole “thunderclap” incident happened… So I ended up having to move forward and release it today instead.
With that in mind, I would like to humbly ask you a favor… Please give us some work!! At this rate, our company could literally fall apart into a million pieces. My team and I may be forced to survive on nothing but cicada shells collected from a dilapidated park. So please help us!! You are our only hope!!
For work requests, investment proposals, words of encouragement or invitations to seminars on the Law of Attraction, we would be very grateful if you could contact us using the “CONTACT” form on our official website.
Any support you could offer would mean the world to us. We sincerely look forward to hearing from you!
Founding members of CRASH KEYS include:
Kotaro Uchikoshi (Deadass Underrated CEO and Director)
A delightfully offbeat game designer known for his unconventional adventure titles such as Never17THE Zero escape series, and the AI: Somnium files series. His inventive stories combine complex branching structures, mind-bending plot twists, sci-fi and philosophical themes, and an almost aristocratic approach to dirty jokes, earning him worldwide fame.
One of his flagship works, 999: Nine hours, nine people, nine doorswon the IGN award for “Best DS (55 articles)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/nintendo/ds”>DS Story 2010″. Its sequel, The Last Reward of Virtuehas also received numerous accolades from international gaming media, including GameSpot’s “2012 Handheld Game of the Year” award. The game was even nominated for “Best Story” at the prestigious Game Developers Choice Awards 2013, reinforcing its international reputation. (Although, of course, it’s thanks to the team and the fans…)
Founding member of Too Kyo Games (89 articles)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/too-kyo-games”>Too Kyo Games, he was scenario director on The Line of Hundreds: Last Defense Academy (12 articles)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/the-hundred-line-last-defense-academy”>The Line of Hundreds: Last Defense Academyreleased in 2025. The game received an “Award for Excellence” at the 2025 Japan Game Awards, as well as the “Scenario” and “Rookie” awards at the 2025 Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards. It also earned nominations for “Best Storytelling” at the Golden Joystick. in a Game” at the New York Game Awards 2026, widely acclaimed in Japan and around the world. (Again, all thanks to the incredible team and fans. Thank you very much!)
Akira Mine (Potential anonymous writer)
After years of writing RPG scenarios at a certain company, they recently worked on The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy And Danganronpa 2×2 (9 articles)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/danganronpa-2×2″>Danganronpa 2×2. When it comes to character portrayal and dialogue, he’s the kind of writer who keeps rewriting until he’s completely satisfied. They are particular in their craft, but their portfolio is entirely at the mercy of their favorites.
Perhaps because they follow their curiosity wherever it leads them, their own lives are the one thing that never seems to go according to script, which is a bit of a conundrum. However, they have a great time.Muri Sasaki (Murdery and captivating screenwriter)
In addition to writing for anime and games, they work on independent games based on their own original concepts and scripts, including Seifuku no Ojisama And Hornet the Vanguard” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/hornet-the-vanguard”>Hornet the Vanguard.
They also contributed to the design of the gameplay sections of Uchikoshi’s game. Zero escape And AI: Somnium files series.
With the wonderfully selfish mindset of putting their characters through trials while keeping as much peace and quiet for themselves as possible, they create stories full of surprises and heart.
Visit the official CRASH KEYS website here.
Gn tech
