Paradise Killer devs return to bizarre crime drama with open world Promise Mascot Agency

As part of the ID@Xbox Showcase, Kaizen Game Works, the developers of 2020’s Paradise Killer, has revealed their next bizarre crime drama, Promise Mascot Agency. The absolutely bonkers-looking open-world game is PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows in 2025.

In Promise Mascot Agency, you play as Michi, a disgraced Yakuza member who is put in charge of the titular agency for mascots, and you must turn the business around. While trying to run a legitimate-ish business, he must also unravel the conspiracy that led to his exile.

Also, you’re helped along the way by Pinky, who seems to be an anthropomorphic severed finger.

Like Paradise Killer, Promise Mascot Agency is an open-world game. It takes place in an area called Kaso-Machi, and you get a pretty sweet truck to drive around in. But beyond just solving crime, you also have to actually manage the mascots who come to you for representation. This often leads to hilarious hijinks where you help these abominations using “Hero Cards” to get them out of trouble.

It looks spectacular. I reviewed Paradise Killer way back when it was released. It was one of my favorite games of that year, and has stuck with me since. You probably could have struck my interest with “from the developers of Paradise Killer,” but the trailer delivers beyond that with just a feverish representation of Japan. Damn, I’m excited.

Unfortunately, I have quite a while to wait, as Promise Mascot Agency launches on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows in 2025.