Kotaro Uchikoshi, the creative force behind the acclaimed Zero Escape and AI: The Somnium Files series, has revealed that a secret project at his newly formed studio, Crash Keys, has been abruptly canceled. The game, which had been in development for roughly a year and a half, was intended to be announced alongside the studio in 2027. However, unforeseen circumstances led to its cancellation, leaving the team without any current projects.
Uchikoshi established Crash Keys in March 2025, with the studio specializing in game design, direction, and narrative writing. The team comprises Uchikoshi, writer Akira Mine (Hundred Line, Danganronpa 2×2), and scriptwriter Muri Sasaki (Zero Escape, AI: The Somnium Files). These individuals have previously collaborated at Too Kyo Games, the developer of Uchikoshi's recent title, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. The unexpected shelving of their debut project has placed the studio in a precarious position, with Uchikoshi actively seeking new work.
In a social media announcement, Uchikoshi expressed his distress over the situation, stating that he and his staff might have to resort to picking up stones by the riverbank to survive. He has made the studio's website public, including contact information, in a plea for clients to reach out. The original plan was to unveil both the studio and its first game simultaneously, but these plans have been altered. Uchikoshi has asked for support to fill the "WORKS" section of the Crash Keys website with future projects.
This situation echoes the financial challenges faced by Too Kyo Games, whose CEO Kazutaka Kodaka noted last year that the surprise success of The Hundred Line was crucial in keeping the company afloat after significant debt accumulated during the game's development. The hope now is that a similar lifeline will emerge for Crash Keys following the cancellation of its initial game.