After resuming his duties following an urgent medical leave in July, Shibuya Scramble Stories creative director Jiro Ishii disclosed on September 2 that the combined funds gathered through the game’s crowdfunding initiatives have now exceeded 100 million JPY (approximately $624 thousand USD). Storytelling, Ishii’s development studio, will temporarily finance the outstanding development costs stemming from the setback involving crowdfunding platform Ubgoe (which led to the project falling short of over half its target) while pursuing rightful reimbursement.
Ishii also participated in a Shibuya Scramble Stories development showcase on September 1. Alongside updates on the crowdfunding progress, his team unveiled a gameplay demonstration video and introduced two fresh characters to the project.
The demonstration (featured above) does not perfectly mirror the final gameplay experience, as certain scenes may differ from the completed version. Ishii clarified that the visual novel segments are operating “nearly entirely” on the game’s internal engine and represent the team’s intended outcome.
Additionally, it was revealed that Japanese social media personality Namae wa Mada Nai and professional wrestler Unagi Sayaka will lend their talents to portray new characters. Namae wa Mada Nai will voice Mido, an aspiring journalism student, who actively shares news articles online to build her portfolio and gain readership. Unagi Sayaka will embody Unagi Nagiko, a devoted adherent to Shibuya’s longstanding “Banana Cult,” an eccentric local group with decades of history.
A stretch objective for the initial phase of the CAMPFIRE crowdfunding drive indicated that reaching a cumulative 100 million JPY in funding would unlock a significant non-playable character. Although this milestone wasn’t achieved during the first phase, the shortfall was minimal—about $10 thousand USD—and was promptly covered at the outset of the second phase, suggesting potential for further character additions.
Shibuya Scramble Stories remains in active development. The second phase of its CAMPFIRE crowdfunding campaign is currently underway and will conclude on September 30. For additional details about the game, visit its official website.