Strategic Roguelike Chess 'Below the Crown' Confirmed for Japanese Release! Official Version 1.0 Now Available!

Shochiku Co., Ltd. Game Business Department (hereinafter Shochiku Games) is pleased to announce that the dark humor-filled strategic roguelike chess game 'Below the Crown' will be localized into Japanese and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). The Japanese localization is planned for 2026.

In addition, the long-awaited official version 1.0 has been released on Steam today, April 22. To celebrate the launch, a limited-time 35% OFF sale is currently underway.

### About Japanese Localization and Asian Expansion In response to passionate requests from Japanese fans, localization is progressing with publishing support from Shochiku Games. - Supported Languages: Japanese, Chinese (Simplified, Traditional) - Implementation Period: 2026

### Now Available! New Features in Official Version 1.0 (English Only for Now) The official version 1.0 released today includes the following content. Please note that current support is limited to English. - New Units: Addition of the 'Queen' and 'Wizard' pieces who manipulate spells. - Narrative Conclusion: Implementation of three different narrative endings. - Final Battle: Face off against the Emperor in the deepest part of the dungeon. - System Expansion: New runes, upgrades, and skills, along with support for Steam Cloud saves and achievements.

### Official Version 1.0 Release Sale Information To celebrate the launch, the game is available at a special price: - Sale Price: 1,105 JPY (tax included) *35% OFF from the standard 1,700 JPY - Period: April 22, 2026 – May 6, 2026 *Current 1.0 version is English only. *Sale dates and content are subject to change without notice.

### About 'Below the Crown' Explore underground dungeons filled with a love for roguelikes, dungeon crawling, and chess! 'Below the Crown' is a brand-new strategic roguelike chess game from Misfits Attic, the creators of the indie hit 'Duskers'. Set in a strange and dark-humored world, players will encounter strategic battles and procedurally generated events. Combining a build-focused growth system with chess-inspired units, players challenge enemies in ever-changing arenas. As you play, you'll develop your party, unlock new abilities, and sometimes undergo unexpected personality tests. 'Below the Crown' offers a highly replayable roguelike experience for players seeking strategic depth.

### Game Overview - Title: Below the Crown - Japanese Release: 2026 - Platform: PC (Steam) - Price: 1,700 JPY (1,105 JPY during the sale until May 6) - Players: 1 - Developer: Misfits Attic - Publisher: Misfits Attic, Shochiku

### About Misfits Attic An independent game studio based in California, USA. With the motto 'Big little games, with a style of their own', they aim to create dark-humored and immersive experiences. The founding members have over 50 years of combined experience in film, gaming, and design. Their notable works include the award-winning RTS 'Duskers' and the critically acclaimed action-puzzle game 'A Virus Named TOM'. They are currently developing 'Below the Crown', which released its early access in Q4 2025.

### About Shochiku Games Started in June 2024 as a specialized game business department within Shochiku Co., Ltd. It publishes PC and console games for global markets, with a focus on Japan and Asia.