Entertainment · Gaming · 5 hrs ago
Stranger Than Heaven’s showbiz system grew from research into music promoters
RGG Studio built Stranger Than Heaven’s showbiz system around the work of a promoter.
Director Mikinobu Abe said the team researched what music promoters do because their role is less familiar than that of singers or bands.
The system has the main character, Makoto Daito, build a business, find musical inspiration and plan productions.
A small rhythm-game idea did not fit the team’s vision, so developers tried other approaches.
Players can explore cities, collect sounds from things such as clocks and bonfires, then work with a composer to make music.
The game treats a promoter as someone who brings money, inspiration and a vision to a show.
This makes the system about shaping a production, not only playing music.
Stranger Than Heaven is set to release on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.
Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe said RGG Studio’s Showbiz system was a real challenge to design.
The system has players take the role of Makoto Daito, building a business and working as a show promoter.
The team researched what music promoters do because their work is less familiar than that of singers or bands.
A small rhythm game prototype did not convey the feeling of promoting a show, so the team reconsidered the design.
Players can gather sounds from city environments and use them as inspiration for music and productions.
Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.
- Who
- RGG Studio, with director Mikinobu Abe explaining the design.
- What
- The studio developed the Showbiz system for Stranger Than Heaven, drawing on research into music promoters.
- When
- The game is scheduled to release on January 15, 2027.
- Where
- The game is planned for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.
- Why
- The team wanted to capture the promoter’s role in bringing money, inspiration and a vision to a show.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
RGG Studio began by investigating what a music promoter does.
The team developed a small rhythm game, but Abe said it did not capture the feeling of promoting a show.
The team developed a system for finding sounds in city environments and using them as inspiration for music.
Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled to release.
- Director
- Mikinobu Abe
- Main character
- Makoto Daito
- Release date
- January 15, 2027
- Platforms
- PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC
- Game system
- Showbiz lets players find sounds as inspiration and plan productions
What people are saying
was a real challenge for us
At some point we did have a small rhythm game, but it didn't exactly match the feeling that you're promoting a show
One thing that we noticed is that a promoter is the person who brings in not just the money, but also the inspiration and the whole vision of the show
So, if you're a musician, you always have this antenna for the music you're hearing, and that can inspire people to create new stuff