Kodansha Game Creators’ Lab and solo developer Bon have revealed BUZZ or DIE, a new sci-fi visual novel coming to PC via Steam in 2026. BUZZ or DIE will launch with English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese language options.
“At first glance, BUZZ or DIE seems a bit extreme,” said Bon. “It has an outrageous premise, and complicated characters. It’s a hard-hitting, memorable gameplay experience, and there’s a ton of depth to be discovered that I do not want to spoil.”
Here’s an overview of the game, via Kodansha Game Creators’ Lab:
A handful of “lucky” prisoners get to gamble double-or-nothing with their lives in a new game show: BUZZ or DIE! Two opponents comb through their rival’s past to create the most damning video possible, with a catchy thumbnail, then screen it for the entire country. Go viral and walk out with a squeaky-clean record. Flop, and earn a grisly streamed execution. Your post is trending, or you are meeting your ending!
Dig through the opponent’s entire history in search of scandalous skeletons in their closet: read through their past conversations, and scan their memories for disgraceful deeds, treacherous thoughts, and appalling actions.
Package their horrid histories with the perfect words and images to create a killer thumbnail in the most salacious manner possible, then roll the video for the audience. Whoever pulls in the most likes earns their freedom and one wish. The loser is put to death, with their android likeness condemned to eternal labor. It’s a dig at their dignity… but it’s not like they’ll be around to see it.
Among the peculiar cast with sordid pasts handpicked for stardom (or expedited execution): a former comedian turned bomber, a genius hacker, a revolutionary, and a chef with an appetite for people. It’s a popularity contest like no other, with no consolation prizes!
