Skeleton Crew Studio's crowdfunding campaign for Shibuya Scramble Stories raised 54 million yen on Ubgoe, only for the platform to wire the funds to the wrong account. Developer Jiro Ishii, producer of the cult visual novel 428: Shibuya Scramble, now faces delays on his spiritual successor as legal action unfolds. Ubgoe's excuse—a simple wiring error to another client—has left over half the money unrecovered, with the recipient reportedly refusing to return it.

Ubgoe promised payout on September 1, 2025, but delivered only partial funds. Ishii's lawyer calls the platform's repeated claims dubious, noting inconsistencies in their account of events. Recent updates indicate the studio has received some money back, but still awaits at least 20 million yen. The platform's CEO personally oversaw the transfer, turning what should have been routine into a financial black hole.

Reddit threads in r/Games and r/whennews echo widespread skepticism, with users questioning how a professional platform could fumble basic banking. X posts highlight the irony of a game about chaotic Shibuya intersections mirroring real-life funding scramble. For indie devs relying on crowdfunding, this fiasco underscores the risks of unproven platforms.

Indie projects like Shibuya Scramble Stories thrive on fan trust, not clerical errors. Ubgoe's mishap erodes that foundation, leaving Ishii to chase shadows in court.