ENDLESS SUMMER Studio, the Japanese indie game development team behind Neon Light LLC, revealed on April 24 that it is taking legal action against the CEO of the domestic crowdfunding platform Ubgoe. The conflict revolves around unsettled development finances for the studio’s forthcoming sci-fi visual novel, Purgatory: Blue.
Composer and music producer cittan* (Fumihisa Tanaka) spearheaded the project, which launched on Ubgoe in July 2025. The crowdfunding drive continued until September of that year, securing over 10.93 million yen (approximately $68.4 thousand USD) from 485 supporters, achieving 156% of its initial target. However, ENDLESS SUMMER Studio reports that more than five months have elapsed since the payment deadline, and Ubgoe has failed to disburse the funds.
Ubgoe, established in January 2021 as a crowdfunding platform managed by Ubgoe Co., Ltd., is led by Kazuo Okada. Upon its inception, the service distinguished itself by being the first to implement a fee structure with no charges for project creators, instead imposing a minor fee on backers. Lately, however, the platform has faced numerous issues, including acclaimed game designer Jiro Ishii’s disclosure earlier this month that Ubgoe had retained over half of the funds collected for his project, Shibuya Scramble Stories. Compounding these problems, the website itself became unavailable on the night of April 15. Although Ubgoe issued a brief statement indicating efforts to restore server functionality, the site remains offline as of now.
ENDLESS SUMMER Studio appears to be the latest victim of Ubgoe’s troubles. The developers were scheduled to receive the Purgatory: Blue development funds as far back as November 2025. After Ubgoe failed to meet this obligation, it allegedly promised to transfer the funds by December 15, a commitment it did not fulfill. Subsequently, the developers obtained a written pledge of debt repayment from Ubgoe’s CEO Kazuo Okada, with a new payment deadline set for December 26, which was also ignored. In February 2026, Ubgoe communicated intentions to make the payment that same month, yet the developers have still not received any compensation to date.
In response to this ongoing deadlock, ENDLESS SUMMER Studio engaged legal counsel and submitted a criminal complaint to the Shibuya Police Station in February, accusing Kazuo Okada of embezzlement. The station’s Criminal Investigation Division for white-collar crimes has reportedly initiated inquiries into Okada’s financial accounts. The developers state that they will determine whether to pursue a civil lawsuit based on the outcome of these proceedings.
Despite the legal turmoil, Purgatory: Blue creator cittan* has reassured fans and backers that his studio remains committed to completing the game. Although left without the pledged funds, cittan* views himself as accountable for ensuring the project’s success and is reportedly formulating a strategy to continue development using personal funds and alternative fundraising initiatives.
Mido