The latest news from the world of Indonesian indie games, at the largest indie game event in Kyoto, Japan, Bitsummit the 1998 game demo: The Toll Keeper Story is playable on PlayStation 5. The demo will be playable at PlayStation's exhibition area at Miyako Messe from May 22-24, 2026. This confirms that the game will be released on the PlayStation 5 platform.
Riris Marpaung, CEO of GameChanger Studio, said “It's been a long wait for GameChanger Studio to be able to showcase its games at this prestigious event and in the PlayStation area! This support is a real trust and action from PlayStation towards indie studios or game products that have a track record and quality that is not kidding.“
The process for the game to be released on PlayStation 5
To release this game on the PlayStation platform required support from PlayStation itself, especially to be able to showcase the demo at this prestigious event. In order to get this support, GameChanger Studio had to go through various requirements and a complex and lengthy process. One of the things that formed the basis of selection (beyond gameplay, narrative and business) was the impact of the 1998 game: The Toll Keeper Story, which dares to raise sensitive themes inspired by the dark history that has occurred in this country.
By bringing this intangible knowledge into the gaming medium, GameChanger Studio aims to:
- Inspire other Indonesian game developers to explore local intellectual property.
- Changing the public's negative stigma towards video games.
- Utilize games as a means of preserving history.
PlayStation also appreciated the donation made by GameChanger Studio to the Indonesian Women In Game (IWIG) community. The donation is partly from the proceeds of the 1998 artbook sales: The Toll Keeper Story was done at the end of 2025, which is still rarely done by other game studios in Indonesia.
About the 1998 game: Toll Keeper Story
1998: The Toll Keeper Story invites players into the emotionally charged story of a young pregnant mother named Goddess who must survive in the midst of a national crisis. In this game players will encounter several key features, namely:
- A Survival Mom-to-be: Make daily decisions, not only for yourself but also for the safety of the unborn child.
- Narrative Simulation Game: Check vehicles, check documents, and see the identity of passing drivers. Meanwhile, we must survive with limited resources and increasing tension around us.
- Simple decisions, big consequences: Every choice is important! Who is allowed to pass, who is denied, and how to deal with moral dilemmas in the midst of chaos?
- 90s-inspired Visual Style: The combination of dot textures, old paper aesthetics, and a distinctive sepia filter depicts the limitations of printed materials from the era and immerses the game in a 90s atmosphere.
Read also: 1998: The Toll Keeper Story Review (PC Version)
