Kotaro Uchikoshi, the acclaimed creator of Zero Escape and AI: The Somnium Files, has announced CRASH KEYS, a new Tokyo-based game studio developing original projects and seeking investment partners. However, the announcement comes earlier than planned after a game the team had spent roughly a year and a half working on was suddenly canceled.
Although CRASH KEYS was established in March 2025, Uchikoshi originally intended to introduce the studio alongside its first game in 2027. Following the cancellation, he has brought the announcement forward in hopes of finding investors and securing new work for the team.
In a message shared on Twitter, Uchikoshi described the cancellation as a sudden blow that left him without a job overnight. He also made an emotional, characteristically humorous appeal for support, joking that the company could otherwise be reduced to collecting cicada shells for survival.
CRASH KEYS specializes in video game design, direction, and narrative writing, with Uchikoshi serving as CEO alongside founding members Akira Mine and Muri Sasaki. Mine has worked on The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy and Danganronpa 2×2, while Sasaki has contributed to the Zero Escape and AI: The Somnium Files series, including their gameplay sections, as well as independent game projects.
Uchikoshi’s extensive experience in narrative-driven adventures makes the studio’s future projects particularly interesting. His work on titles such as 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Virtue’s Last Reward, and AI: The Somnium Files has established him as a distinctive voice in games, known for branching narratives, elaborate twists, science-fiction concepts, and philosophical themes. He also served as a founding member of Too Kyo Games and worked as scenario director on The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, which launched in 2025.
CRASH KEYS says it wants to create “deeply moving and memorable experiences for players worldwide.” Its tagline, “Some locks can only be opened with broken keys,” reflects its ambition to challenge conventions and explore unfamiliar creative territory.
The studio is now inviting companies and investors interested in its vision to get in touch regarding investment opportunities, business partnerships, and potential work. Those interested in supporting the team can reach out through the contact form on the official CRASH KEYS website.
While no new game has been announced, the studio’s formation offers Uchikoshi and his collaborators an opportunity to pursue original ideas outside their previous projects. For now, finding the right partners will be an important step toward bringing those ideas to life.