Not long after posting staggering financial losses, MAGES. announced Chiyomaru Shikura has stepped down from his key roles at the company.

Shikura announced he is stepping down from his roles as both executive director and company chairman.

The company posted a separate message confirming Shikura will remain an executive producer and focus on making new games and projects.

Here’s the full word from Shikura:

MAGES. executive director Chiyomaru Shikura steps down

Due to the expiration of my term of office, I have decided to step down from my position as Chairman and Representative Director of MAGES. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the people involved, the dependable staff, and above all, the fans who have been touched by my works, even if only a little, over the long years since the company’s founding. Thank you so very much.

As for my life as a creator, however, I hope I can continue for a little while longer. I am in discussions with my familiar staff members to establish a new relationship with MAGES. in the future, in a new position, so that we can once again release new works.

MAGES. are known for their various adventure and visual novel games like their Steins;Gate series, though they have sold off some IPs like Phantom Breaker, which they sold off to Rocket Panda Games.

Neither Shikura nor MAGES. properly addressed their financial losses, which have forced the company into insolvency. This is also likely the reasoning behind longtime boss Shikura stepping down from key roles.

Considering their current financial state, they would likely require new funding, selling off more IPs, or possibly even consider getting acquired by a larger entity.

Lastly, their most recently released title is CHAOS;HEAD NOAH, though not new it’s the first official western release for the classic visual novel.