The crowdfunding campaign for the 2D action game *After ICEY*, developed by TAMASHI GAMING, has attracted a large number of backers. While the developers expressed their gratitude during a livestream, they also urged fans not to get their hopes up too high.
Sequel in Development to Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of “ICEY”
This side-scrolling 2D action game is being developed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of “ICEY,” which was released for PC (Steam) in November 2016 and later launched on mobile and Nintendo Switch.
The original game was characterized by high-speed combat that made full use of attacks, dodges, and combos, as well as a meta element where players sometimes had to defy the navigator giving them instructions to advance the story. The sequel carries on this style, allowing players to proceed through their adventure by choosing whether to follow the instructions of a newly introduced female navigator or deliberately defy her.
The story is set after the ending of the previous game. Players will utilize newly added abilities, such as parrying and sprinting, to defeat three targets and recover masks formed from soul crystals.
Note that this title is not being developed directly by FantaBlade Network, the developer of the previous game; instead, TAMASHI GAMING—led by former developer Lao Ma Ke Xiao, who has since left the company—is handling both development and distribution.
Delighted and Anxious Amid a Flood of Support
To fund the development of *After ICEY*, the team has been raising funds on the Chinese crowdfunding platform “Modian” since October 1, 2026.As of this writing, with 42 days remaining until the campaign ends, the number of backers has surpassed 170,000, and the total amount raised has exceeded approximately 25.37 million yuan (about 590 million yen).
Amid this, developer Lao Ma Ke Xiao expressed his gratitude during a livestream on Bilibili for the support far exceeding expectations, while also confessing to feeling immense pressure. During the stream, he was even seen bowing deeply on the ground, pleading with viewers not to raise expectations for the game too high.
According to Lao Ma Ke Xiao, the game is being developed by a team of six, and increasing funding does not mean the team can be expanded quickly. He explained that recruiting staff and fostering team collaboration takes time, making it difficult to drastically increase the game’s scale or quality before release.
However, he stated that they have no plans to delay the release date and will instead use the funds raised to improve the game’s quality. He also expressed his intention to enhance elements such as CG and music, while releasing free DLC and other content after launch.
*After ICEY* is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2027 for PC (Steam). According to the crowdfunding page, the release is planned for around May 1, 2027, with a suggested retail price of 48 yuan (approximately 1,000 yen).
The previous title, *ICEY*, is currently available for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and mobile (iOS/Android). It is currently on sale for 413 yen (65% off) on Steam and 400 yen (60% off) on the Nintendo Store.
