Idea Factory Has Launched IFChronicle Brand

The publisher unveiled its new visual novel brand alongside the crime suspense game ICONOLOGY.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Board Games

Graphic illustration of a glowing translucent cube floating in darkness, evoking the crime-suspense aesthetic of a visual novel.
Idea Factory has launched its new visual novel brand IFChronicle, which will debut with the crime suspense game ICONOLOGY. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Idea Factory has launched a new visual novel brand named IFChronicle. The label introduced its debut project, a crime suspense adventure game titled ICONOLOGY.

Why it matters

The brand expansion marks a strategic shift for Idea Factory as it targets the visual novel market. The label focuses on narratives involving complex criminal investigations and supernatural elements.

The upcoming game ICONOLOGY will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The title features language support for English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.

The players

Idea Factory

This Japanese video game developer and publisher is known for creating specialized gaming titles and expanding its brand portfolio.

Makoto Fukami

He is a prominent scenario writer recognized for his contributions to various crime and suspense-themed narratives in the entertainment industry.

Haruho Tsubakiya

She is the protagonist of ICONOLOGY who works as a Special Investigator for the Experimental Task Force.

The details

ICONOLOGY is a crime suspense adventure written by Makoto Fukami that follows protagonist Haruho Tsubakiya. Recruited by the Experimental Task Force in Tokyo, Tsubakiya uses a device called the White Cube to turn suspect thoughts into cognitive paintings to solve brutal crimes.

Timeline

  1. Idea Factory announced the IFChronicle brand and ICONOLOGY on September 30, 2026.

Roadmap

This game launch follows the industry trend of utilizing the Steam digital distribution platform to reach a global audience of visual novel enthusiasts. The move positions the new brand to capitalize on the growing demand for interactive suspense titles across both console and PC markets.

Fans of crime suspense games can expect to access the title on both PC and Switch upon its release. The inclusion of multi-language support ensures the game is accessible to an international player base.

The takeaway

The creation of IFChronicle demonstrates a growing focus on high-concept storytelling within the gaming sector. Players should expect more niche, narrative-driven titles as the company aims to establish this new brand in the competitive crime suspense market.

Further reading

Explore more industry news on the Board Games section page.

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Do you enjoy playing narrative-heavy visual novel games?