Shibuya Scramble Successor Faces Uncertainty Due to Crowdfunding Mismanagement

Spike Chunsoft’s *428: Shibuya Scramble* became a cult classic upon its release in 2009. Created by Jiro Ishii, the game revolves around a kidnapping plot set against the backdrop of one of Tokyo’s busiest districts. Its quirky charm and notoriety led to a western localization a decade later. Recently, Ishii announced a follow-up titled *Shibuya Scramble Stories* on the crowdfunding platform Ubgoe, which successfully raised an impressive 54 million yen, surpassing its funding goals. However, when Ishii attempted to access the funds, he stumbled upon a bizarre situation: Ubgoe had lost the money.

According to reports, Ishii is seeking legal advice due to the strange circumstances surrounding the funds. Skeleton Crew Studio claims that Ubgoe has withheld the money raised during the campaign, which was supposed to be delivered by September 2025. Upon inquiry, Ubgoe only provided half of the funds, with CEO Kazuo Okada stating that the remainder had been mistakenly sent to the wrong account.

This is certainly not the kind of news one hopes to hear from a crowdfunding platform—unless, of course, you’re the fortunate individual whose account just received a hefty deposit! Even more concerning is that Ubgoe seems unwilling to cover the missing amount or provide any documentation regarding the funds’ whereabouts. Ishii’s team is understandably skeptical of this explanation and suspects that the money may have been misappropriated in some way.

This isn’t the kind of scramble Ishii envisioned, but his studio reassures fans that development on the game is still progressing. Their primary worry now revolves around the additional rewards promised during the campaign. The fun perks like stickers and tote bags can often turn into bigger headaches than the main project itself, as anyone familiar with crowdfunding can attest. The fine print on Ubgoe states that all promised items are guaranteed, but it’s hard to believe that this is more legally binding than the platform’s commitment to deliver the funds.