The short-video creation death game ADV "BUZZ or DIE" is scheduled for release on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The title will be published by Kodansha Game Lab via Steam.
At the same time, full voice acting has been confirmed for this title! In the second PV released today, voice lines for all characters will be revealed for the first time.
The demo is officially available on Steam starting today. Players can fully experience the first chapter of the game's opening, and the demo also features full voice acting! Additionally, the title plans to participate in the Steam Next Fest, which opens on Monday, October 19.
This title is an adventure game set in a variety show featuring death row inmates, each with their own hidden pasts. Players are thrust into a deadly game where failure to go viral results in public execution. To survive, you must investigate and uncover your opponents' secret histories, then use these revelations as material to create short videos and compete against them. No video editing experience? No problem! All you need to do is strategize how to leverage your opponent's information to craft an eye-catching thumbnail. Your choices will give rise to a variety of short videos. Can you emerge victorious and survive in this death reality show ruled by "likes"?
※This title contains scenes of violence, grotesque imagery, and content that may cause psychological discomfort.
■Full Voice Acting Confirmed! Death Row Inmate Voice Cast & Second PV Revealed
A major appeal of this title is its intense human drama, woven from the passionate clashes of villains, each with their own hidden stories. Please enjoy the experience through full character voice acting.
The death row inmates, brought to life by voice actors, are all unique and dangerous individuals. They fight in pairs as partners. A genius comedian who blew up a TV station teams up with a genius girl hacker who bankrupted a major bank. The daughter of a weapons dealer who attempted a coup pairs with her private chef, skilled in preparing human meat dishes. And then there's a child sentenced to death for unknown reasons, paired with his detective father. Each pair hides a secret past, and different combinations share deep connections.
Player (CV: Iori Nomizu)
Originally one of the program staff, but forced to become a contestant
Sho Sakijima (CV: Takaaki Torashima)
The player's partner. A cult leader and also a fraudster
Tutorial Sister
(CV: Sarah Emi Bridcutt)
Sakijima Sho's "feminized" android
Staff Member (CV: Nozomi Takatsuki)
A program staff member who assists Tutorial Sister
Shinobu Ashiade (CV: Toya Shiraishi)
A former popular comedian who blew up a TV station
Sayuri Utsu (CV: Reina Kawamura)
A genius girl hacker who infiltrated a major bank's system
Manami Jujo (CV: Yurika Hirayama)
The daughter of a weapons dealer whose family nearly destroyed the country through a coup d'état
Sumito Kanibari (CV: Toshinobu Iida)
A top-tier chef who calls himself a "human meat cuisine expert"
Ina Urakiri (CV: Miu Miyake)
A boy who aspires to become a detective
Souichi Urakiri (CV: Yuichiro Kuba)
Ina's father, also an active-duty detective
Hame Higashi (CV: Haruka Sato)
The program producer, who is also the player's boss
Character sprites, key visuals, and event CGs are all newly illustrated by manga artist Junji Okada (known for "Twin Game" and "Tatakiza Side Hustle"). From the intense taunts exchanged between death row inmates to the humiliating defeats of losers, Everythinggj is brought to life through Okada-sensei's exquisite and uniquely aesthetic illustrations, complemented by the passionate performances of the voice cast. We look forward to your anticipation!
■First Chapter Fully Included! Demo Available for Download Starting Today & Participation in Steam Next Fest
The opponent in the first match is a pair consisting of Sakijima's feminized android and a cheerful male program staff member
Players take on the role of the protagonist, "Player," partnering with "Sakijima," a death row inmate and former cult leader, to compete in the life-or-death variety show "BUZZ or DIE." The ultimate winner will not only be exonerated but also granted the right to "have any wish fulfilled." On the other hand, losers will not only face public execution during a live broadcast... they will also be chosen as prototypes for slave androids. In other words, slave androids identical to themselves will be distributed worldwide. For the losers, this means an endless trampling of their dignity.
To survive, players must investigate their opponents' pasts in the "Exploration Phase" and expose their secrets to the national audience, humiliating them publicly.
Contestants gain access to their opponents' mental worlds, allowing them to uncover hidden pasts, secrets, and true feelings
The outcome of "BUZZ or DIE" is decided by viewer votes. There is only one way to win—create short videos using your opponents as material to garner more "likes." In the "Investigation Phase," enter your opponent's mental world to uncover their weaknesses, then craft eye-catching thumbnails that will grab viewers' attention.
How you exploit your opponents' pasts and secrets to turn them into entertainment for viewers depends on the thumbnails you create
Depending on the direction of the thumbnail—such as outrage-bait, emotional, or trivia-focused—the content of the short video will change
No matter the methods used, failure to go viral means only death awaits. Expose your opponents' secrets and win this life-or-death reality show—experience it for yourself in the demo!
⭐︎【13th–16th】Kodansha GCL will release demos & latest info for 4 titles consecutively
Additionally, starting with today's announcement of "BUZZ or DIE" as the first title, Kodansha Game Lab will release demos and the latest information for four titles over the next four days. Stay tuned!
■Creator Profile
Bon
Specializes in creating distinct, unique characters and building dark, interpretive worldviews.
Previous works include several free-to-play games such as "EgoMixer" and "12 HOURS."
■Game Information
Game Title: BUZZ or DIE
Platform: Steam
Planned supported languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese
Genre: Death Game ADV
Release Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Demo: Available now (includes Chapter 0, approximately 30 minutes of gameplay)
Number of players: 1
Developer: Bon
Character Illustrations: Junji Okada
Publisher: Kodansha Ltd.
Copyright: ©︎ Bon/Kodansha
■ About Kodansha Creators' Lab
Kodansha Creators' Lab is an R&D department established in June 2021 by Kodansha Ltd.'s Fourth Business Division. Operating under the philosophy of "redefining editing," the department builds extensive connections with creators across various fields, continuously releasing diverse content to society beyond the confines of books and magazines.
Includes:
・The "Kodansha Game Lab," which plans support for indie game creators and develops new titles
・The "UGC Media Lab," which operates services like the matching-type manga submission platform DAYS NEO
・The "Kodansha Film & Television Lab," which supports independent video creators and promotes new video projects
・The "Creator Growth Acceleration Lab," which supports creators across all fields
・The "Content Design Lab," which proposes content-based creative solutions for corporate and local government challenges
・The "IP Production Lab," which incubates new content IPs through a producer system
Through these diverse business segments, we not only help creators realize their dreams but also provide solutions for corporate and local government challenges through the power of "editing."
For the latest news on "Kodansha Game Lab," please refer to the following official channels: