Kodansha Creators Lab announced that indie game creator Bon has joined the “Kodansha Game Creators Lab (GCL)” as a lab member, and that his death game adventure “BUZZ or DIE,” currently in development, is scheduled for release on PC (Steam) sometime in 2026.
Go viral and you’re acquitted; lose and face public execution. It all depends on the viewers’ “likes.”
This adventure game is set on a variety show featuring death row inmates with troubled pasts. Players are paired with a death row inmate as their partner and forced to participate in the life-or-death show “BUZZ or DIE.”
The outcome is decided by viewer votes, and the key to winning is gathering the most “likes” with short videos mocking your opponent.The winner is granted acquittal and the right to have “any wish granted,” while the loser faces a public execution broadcast live—and a future in which their dignity is perpetually shattered as a model for slave androids.
The game consists of two main parts: the “Investigation Part,” where you read through the prisoners’ conversations and flashbacks to delve into your opponent’s psyche and uncover their past; and the “Thumbnail Creation Part,” where you use the uncovered material to combine images and words that fit the short video’s theme to create a thumbnail.
The content of the short videos your partner creates changes depending on the direction you take with the thumbnail, so chase after that “Instagrammable” look to rack up views and turn your rivals’ pitiful pasts into a spectacle.
Character illustrations by manga artist Junji Okada
The show features pairs of death-row inmates who have all committed serious crimes—including a former comedian turned bomber, a genius hacker girl, a revolutionary, and a cannibal chef. There are deep-seated ties between each pair, and their relationships will be revealed as the show progresses.
The character portraits and event stills are original illustrations by manga artist Junji Okada, known for works such as “Twin Game” and “Tatakiza Side Hustle.”The developer, Mr. Bon, is an indie game creator who has brought titles such as *EgoMixer* and *Douji Mata Zenbu Furu* to the world; his signature style lies in creating quirky characters and crafting dark, thought-provoking worlds.
In conjunction with this announcement, it was also revealed that Bon will be joining the “Kodansha Game Creators Lab (GCL)” at Kodansha Creators Lab as a lab member. The Steam store page was also updated today, August 31, and a new key visual has been unveiled.
“BUZZ or DIE” is scheduled for release on PC (Steam) in 2026. The price has not yet been determined.
