Hey there, I’m Oli, the game director here at Kaizen Game Works, the brains behind Paradise Killer. I’m absolutely stoked to share some news: our new game, Promise Mascot Agency, now has a playable demo available on PS5! It’s an open-world, mascot management crime drama, and it’s been a labor of love to get it to this point.
We’ve poured a lot of time into crafting this game, and everyone on the team is buzzing with excitement for PlayStation fans to try it out. Let’s not beat around the bush—the PS5 is fantastic. Most of us at Kaizen have been PlayStation enthusiasts from the beginning. We’ve spent countless hours with the original PlayStation line, collecting games from the PS1 and PS2 eras. These experiences heavily inspired Promise Mascot Agency’s design.
I’m a huge fan of PS2 classics where you can just hang out and explore. Games like Way of the Samurai, Raw Danger, Boku No Natsuyasumi, and Steambot Chronicles have this amazing laid-back vibe. They let you meet quirky characters and make important choices at your own pace. We wanted to capture that essence—a playful world with hidden secrets, eccentric characters, compelling gameplay, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
You’ll step into the shoes of Michi, an exiled yakuza officer, and partner with the mischievous Pinky. Together, you’ll aim to rescue a struggling mascot agency and uncover the conspiracy that landed Michi in a cursed coastal town in Japan. In this unique world, mascots are living beings, and the town, Kaso-Machi, is populated by outcasts who can’t fit in anywhere else. Michi’s mission? To form a new team of mascots, help them reach their dreams, and save both the business and his yakuza family.
Kaso-Machi is draped in the cloak of a supernatural curse. The central mountain acts as a playground for spirits and deities, and the town itself is a tapestry of superstitious and occult tales. Michi can delve into mysteries such as ghostly apparitions, runaway sin talismans, and the legendary Tsuchinoko creature. But time is of the essence—the curse is deadly to any yakuza who dares to visit. Can Michi resolve these enigmas and lift the curse before it takes its toll?
We’ve been working on this project for four years, teaming up with talents like Ikumi Nakamura and Mai Mattori to bring our characters and world to life. Our collaboration blends the unique style of Kaizen with Nakamura-san’s vision, creating a game that’s both nostalgic and unconventional. Though we hail from the West, we’ve partnered with Japanese artists, musicians, and other creatives, infusing the game with authentic and diverse influences. We’ve given our team ample freedom to infuse their personal experiences and cultural backgrounds into the game.
Recently, we revealed some of the voice talents you’ll hear, including Takaya Kuroda, the voice behind Kiryu Kazuma, who brings Michi to life. We were blown away when Kuroda-san simply showed up for the audition. He pairs with Ayano Shibuya as Pinky, building a dynamic duo with a buddy-cop vibe. The game also features other fantastic voice talents, including debut roles for Shuhei Yoshida and SWERY.
Our team might be small, but we’ve given our all to produce a large, engaging, and quirky 20-hour open-world RPG. We can’t wait for you to play it, and we’re thrilled to share the demo with you now. Enjoy the experience—especially the PS5’s DualSense haptics, adaptive triggers, and speaker features. Stay tuned for updates on the full release. In the meantime, dive in, honor your promises, and chase those dreams!
Don’t wait—download the demo from the PlayStation Store today!
