Vampire Survivors Developer poncle to Open Japan Studio, El Shaddai Creator as President
poncle, the UK-based developer of Vampire Survivors, announced plans to establish a Japan studio by the end of 2026. Sawaki Takeyasu, the creator of El Shaddai and representative director of crim, will serve as the studio's representative director and president. Takeyasu announced the appointment on his X account on June 9, 2026, saying he would support poncle founder Luca Galante and the team while preparing the studio. The Japan studio aims to streamline communication with Japanese partners and create new collaboration opportunities. Takeyasu previously collaborated with poncle on a crossover between his game Mythological Construction Star Note and Vampire Survivors, and also created the package design for the spin-off Vampire Crawlers. Galante has said he grew up experiencing Takeyasu's work and felt honored that Takeyasu enjoyed Vampire Survivors enough to make a homage. The announcement coincides with the reveal of a new brand called SURVIVATON for future poncle survivor-like games, and a new expansion pack Legacy of the Bloodmoon for Vampire Survivors.