'Backrooms Cleaners,' developed by Hypercent, was showcased at ChinaJoy 2026. CEO Kim Ju-wan, whom we met at the event, explained the background of their participation: "Our previous title, 'Backrooms Company,' received a positive response in the Greater China region. Naturally, this led us to introduce its successor, 'Backrooms Cleaners,' through a demo."

'Backrooms Cleaners' is a game that starts with a twist on the cliché, tasking players with clearing out the Backrooms—a place typically feared as a source of horror. We had the chance to hear from CEO Kim Ju-wan about his thoughts on participating in ChinaJoy and the reactions from local users.

Could you please provide a brief introduction of yourself and your company.

"Hypercent was founded in 2023, and we are currently creating various games based on the Backrooms. Our previous title, Backrooms Company, finished its early access period and was officially released last year. With the goal of turning the Backrooms into a universe, we are currently preparing Backrooms Cleaners.

How do you feel about participating in ChinaJoy 2026? What has the reaction been like at the demo booth.

"Given that this is China, the scale is massive, and since Backrooms Company was a hit in the region, we've seen quite a queue forming. As it's the successor to a successful title, many Chinese users are showing interest, and I'm personally optimistic because the game's style is something that resonates well with Chinese players.

Could you also mention the expectations for the game in other global markets, including Korea.

" Since we released the trailer last month, we've recruited 8k playtesters in the first week and 15k in two weeks, all without any separate marketing or promotion. We are seeing a lot of interest from global markets like North America, South America, and Europe, and in Korea, we realized its popularity when a queue formed at PlayX4.

It is common to avoid the Backrooms, so what was the motivation behind twisting the theme to focus on clearing them out.

" We started considering this idea during the Backrooms Company demo at PlayX4. Backrooms Company is a 8-player escape game where users can carry a single-barrel shotgun that only holds one round of ammunition. It wasn't designed to kill creatures, just to keep them at bay, but I witnessed users actually trying to fight back against the creatures with those shotguns. That made me realize, 'Oh, users prefer engaging with the creatures rather than just running away.' At the time, I told the users, "I'll let you defeat creatures to your heart's content in the sequel, so for now, please focus on running and hiding." Backrooms Cleaners is the realization of that promise.

What are the key strengths you want to highlight for Backrooms Cleaners?

" I think it's the thrill of hunting creatures through the cooperation of characters with different specialties. Players can have fun by utilizing a Tank, damage dealer, assassin, and Healer to work together and push through incoming threats. I also want to emphasize our aggressive update cycle. We plan to release updates on a weekly basis after the launch of Backrooms Cleaners. I know there is often anxiety surrounding early access titles—that developers take the investment but are slow with updates—but we want to put that distrust to rest with our update schedule.

While not as much as in PVP shooters, other PvE shooters sometimes have their atmosphere ruined by cheaters. Have you thought about how to respond to this.

" Because the game itself supports infinite ammo and a system where you can respawn even after dying, there is absolutely no reason to use cheats. The game's foundation is designed to be enjoyed cooperatively and lightheartedly.

You are planning for a Q4 2026 release. How is development coming along? Are you considering releasing it on platforms other than PC.

"We are at about 60% to 70% completion in the early access stage. We plan to push toward the official release through the periodic and rapid updates I mentioned earlier. Additionally, we are planning releases for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

Could you say a word to the users looking forward to Backrooms Cleaners? And could you also mention your plans for the future.

" We are currently planning a management simulation game called 'Backrooms City' as our next project. We intend to continue expanding the Backrooms universe in this way. I am aware that after the first trailer for The Backrooms Cleaners was released, some users were disappointed, saying, 'This isn't the Backrooms,' because of its combat-focused concept. However, I want to emphasize that the Backrooms is always evolving, and various genres are being born within its lore. I hope people will look at these new attempts positively, and I ask for your continued interest and support for the game.