Danganronpa writer Kazutaka Kodaka’s new studio had to take out a loan to fund its next big game, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, which was revealed during June 2024’s Nintendo Direct.
Speaking to Famitsu and translated by Automaton, Kodaka said his team at Too Kyo Games was “risking their lives” for the game due to financial and mental pressure, though a publishing partner has since been secured in Aniplex.
Development started off rocky, however, after a deal with an initial publisher fell through after “numerous difficulties.” Work on The Hundred Line was then restarted but what began as an “indie scale game” quickly grew and demanded more funds.
“We decided to take the plunge and take out a loan,” Kodaka said, a move which is unusual for game developers who are traditionally funded by publishers. Aniplex eventually came through for Too Kyo Games though, and Media Vision and Jet Studio joined as co-developers.
“It was tough both financially and mentally, but I may never have another opportunity to put this much effort into a project,” Kodaka said.
The Hundred Line puts fans of Danganronpa in a similar setting: a hellish high school full of despair. They take on the role of Takumi Sumino, who lived an unremarkable life until he was forced to transfer to the Last Defense Academy.
Players must protect the school from mysterious enemies known as School Invaders for 100 days through tactical role-playing combat and delve into the “enigmatic truth of the school” alongside 15 companions, each looking to reclaim their lost everyday lives.
The Nintendo Direct was full of other major games too, with a brand new Zelda announced alongside Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood. The show ended with the re-reveal of Metroid Prime 4, now subtitled Beyond, seven years after it was first announced. Read about every announcement, big and small, in our Everything Announced article.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.