SMT designer Kazuma Kaneko’s new title is a mobile game called Project MASK

Kazuma Kaneko had a long and storied career at Atlus, which he recently left after 35 years. His next move had him heading over to COLOPL, known for games like Alice Gear Aegis and Volzerk: Monsters and Lands Unknown. Now we have a kernel of an idea of what he’s working on over there.

According to COLOPL’s latest financial results report, Kazuma Kaneko is developing a new game that’s currently just known as Project MASK (via Gematsu). The title comes up with a visual spotlighting a mysterious character in a financial report slide that mentions new smartphone game plans. Outside of the visual and Kaneko’s involvement, all we know about Project MASK is that it utilizes the theme of “creating a new game experience with ‘God.'” I’m not one to speculate, but maybe this time around we won’t be attacking and dethroning God?

Mask off

The report goes on to mention that COLOPL has five mobile titles planned alongside 10 console games and one blockchain game. While it says they plan to “release information on [a] new game for smartphones soon,” a footnote clarifies that the game being announced is not related to Project MASK. As for that blockchain game, it plays into part of their future forecast that includes forays into the crypto field, strengthening their metaverse services, and exploring the use of AI. 

Kazuma Kaneko has spent over three decades designing characters and demons for one of the most respected series out of Atlus. It’ll be interesting to see what he does at a different company that may find itself venturing forth in a few disparate directions.