Entertainment · Gaming · 1 hr ago
Zero Escape Creator Says New Studio’s First Game Was Canceled
Game creator Kotaro Uchikoshi says his team’s game was suddenly canceled.
The project had been in development for about a year and a half, and its cancellation left the team without work lined up.
Uchikoshi is known for the Zero Escape and AI: The Somnium Files series.
He founded Crash Keys in March 2025, but had planned to introduce the studio and its game in 2027.
The studio’s members include writers Akira Mine and Muri Sasaki, who have worked on other games with Uchikoshi.
Crash Keys is now seeking projects and investment to keep the team working; no next game has been announced.
Kotaro Uchikoshi has launched Crash Keys, a studio focused on video game design, direction and narrative writing.
The team’s first game, developed for about a year and a half, was suddenly canceled, leaving the studio without projects lined up.
Uchikoshi is seeking work for the team, while the studio is also seeking investment partners for original projects.
Crash Keys was formed in March 2025, and Uchikoshi had planned to announce it alongside the game in 2027.
The studio’s listed members include writer Akira Mine and scriptwriter Muri Sasaki.
- Who
- Kotaro Uchikoshi and the Crash Keys team.
- What
- Uchikoshi launched Crash Keys, a new development studio. Its first game was canceled, and the studio is seeking new work and investment.
- When
- Crash Keys was formed in March 2025; Uchikoshi announced it on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The team is seeking projects and investment after its game was canceled and it had no projects lined up.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Uchikoshi formed Crash Keys.
The team worked on a game that was later canceled.
Uchikoshi had planned to announce Crash Keys alongside the game.
Uchikoshi announced the studio and said the game had been canceled.
- Studio
- Crash Keys
- Founder and CEO
- Kotaro Uchikoshi
- Formed
- March 2025
- Canceled game development
- About a year and a half
- Planned announcement
- 2027
- Listed members
- Akira Mine and Muri Sasaki
3 sources
What people are saying
specializing in video game design, direction, and narrative writing
suddenly canceled
I lost my job overnight. Talk about a bolt from the blue…
Posts on X
Hi everyone, how's it going? Honestly, I'm not doing well at all... Why, you ask...? Because the game our whole team had poured our hearts and souls into for about a year and a half was suddenly canceled...!! I mean, I lost my job overnight. Talk about a bolt from the blue... So