Viz Media gets into indie game publishing, announces The World Next Door

Rose City Games and Viz Media announce a partnership to debut original, narrative-driven games. Viz Media, publisher of popular gaming adaptations for Pokémon, Splatoon, The Legend of Zelda, Homestuck, Monster Hunter and more, will deepen its robust connection to the gaming world. Rose City Games, a leader in the rapidly-developing indie game scene, will introduce new and diverse voices from the world of indie games to the massive pop culture audience Viz Media has cultivated since its founding.

The first title to be published by Viz Media will be the supernatural action/adventure game, The World Next Door, developed by Rose City Games and featuring character designs by illustrator Lord Gris. “It’s no secret that anime and manga fans love video games,” says Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer, Viz Media. ”We’re excited to be able to bring an entirely new offering to our audience. Viz Media has always been fan-first, and the team at Rose City is the perfect fit for developing games that our audience will love.” “We’re very excited to collaborate with Viz Media and the amazing creators in our indie game communities,” say Will Lewis and Corey Warning, Co-Directors and Co-Founders of Rose City Games. “The ability to pursue multiple original titles as independent developers is huge for us, and this partnership presents the potential to expand the worlds we’re creating beyond games.” The World Next Door is a narrative-driven game that centers around Jun, a rebellious teen girl trapped in a parallel world inhabited by magical creatures. Inspired by the emotional storytelling and thrilling action of both anime and indie games, players can expect to meet and develop friendships with an eclectic cast of characters while uncovering the mysteries hidden within this world.

The World Next Door is currently in full production with a planned release on PC. Viz Media is slated to release two more games developed by Rose City Games over the next few years, and is currently accepting publishing inquiries from developers with games at all stages of production. Stay up to date with the game’s production at theworldnextdoor.com and on Twitter at @worldnextdoor.