“The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” marks the first collaboration between Kazutaka Kodaka, the writer of Danganronpa, and Kotaro Uchikoshi, the creator of Zero Escape. The game, which was revealed at a recent Nintendo Direct, is set in a school environment reminiscent of the Danganronpa series.
Despite the excitement surrounding its announcement, the project has faced significant challenges, including being canceled by its initial publisher and requiring a risky loan for its completion.
Kodaka shared in an interview with Famitsu that the development began around six years ago, shortly after Too Kyoo Games was established. Initially intended to be an indie-scale game, the project’s scope grew significantly, necessitating more extensive resources. The initial publisher eventually scrapped the game, leading Too Kyoo Games to secure a loan to continue its development, despite the financial risks involved.
The studio’s decision to expand the game beyond its indie origins led to substantial debt. Kodaka mentioned that even if all staff members had sold their shares and invested their own money, it wouldn’t have been enough to fund the game.
Fortunately, they found a new publisher in Aniplex, which agreed to support the project despite the studio’s financial struggles. Media.Vision and Jet Studio also joined the development effort, the latter handling the game’s RPG elements.
Despite the support, Kodaka revealed that Too Kyoo Games remains in debt due to the project’s development costs. He described the process as financially and mentally taxing, but also a significant personal and professional experience. Kodaka emphasized the dedication of the staff, who he said are “risking their lives” for the game, hoping that the effort would be worth it.
“The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” is slated for release in early 2025 on PC and Nintendo Switch. There is hope that the game will be successful enough to recoup the development costs and secure the future of Too Kyoo Games.
