Kaizen Game Works Announces Second, Very Mascot-y Game Project: Promise Mascot Agency

Developer Kaizen Game Works has announced that work is underway on their second video game project dubbed Promise Mascot Agency. Pitched as “the world’s first (and best) open world mascot management crime drama”, players can look forward to a blend of open world exploration and mascot management wrapped in a crime drama storyline. Set in a cursed Japanese town called Kaso-Machi, the game follows Michi, a former yakuza lieutenant tasked with transforming a failing mascot agency into a thriving business, while uncovering the mystery of his own exile.

In Promise Mascot Agency, players will navigate the town in Michi’s dilapidated truck, which is upgradeable throughout the game. The town aims to offer a rich environment filled with potential friends, collectibles, and business opportunities. Recruiting and managing mascots – who are their own sentient beings with individual wishes and desires – form a core part of the gameplay loop. Players must negotiate with these mascots, who range in desires from simple snacks to grander, more dramatic aspirations.

Once they’re on the books, mascots can be trained and sent out on a variety of jobs to make money, gain experience and spread the name of the Promise Mascot Agency far and wide! Of course, jobs don’t always go to plan – whether it’s a narrow doorway, kitchens catching on fire or dreadful nightmare spirits, danger lurks around every corner. It’s up to the player to assist their imperilled employee using Hero Cards, which represent different characters Michi meets. These cards can be used to help mascots overcome various challenges they face on the job, enhancing their abilities to earn money and experience.

The development of Promise Mascot Agency involved collaboration with notable industry figures. Japanese developer Ikumi Nakamura and concept artist Mai Mattori contributed to the game’s art direction, helping to shape its distinctive character and setting designs. UK-based Japanese manga artist Inko Ai Takita brought the game’s characters to life with her distinctive manga style. Music on the other hand comes from two composers: Irish musician Alpha Chrome Yayo and Japanese music industry veteran Ryo Koike.

Promise Mascot Agency is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows platforms in 2025.