Bayonetta’s best days might be in the past (PlatinumGames)
Key staff members at Bayonetta studio PlatinumGames appear to have left, as former co-founder Hideki Kamiya sets up his new venture.
Over the past 15 years, developer PlatinumGames has become one of the most beloved game studios in the world, creating titles like Bayonetta, Vanquish, NieR:Automata, and The Wonderful 101.
A key figurehead behind the studio was Hideki Kamiya, who co-founded the company in 2006 and went on to serve as vice president between 2017 and 2023. He departed the studio in October last year and has since set up a new team, Clovers, who are working on the sequel to Ōkami, a game he directed during his years at Capcom.
Kamiya’s departure, however, appears to have had a significant impact on the workforce at PlatinumGames, with many of his former colleagues jumping ship to his new studio.
Speaking in an interview with VGC, Kamiya, who formed the new studio with business partner Kento Koyama, confirmed the majority of the ‘around 25’ staff at Clovers followed them from Platinum to their new offices based in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
While he doesn’t name the members specifically, it’s possible to deduce some from the Clovers’ team photo on the studio’s website, like cinematic director Kunihiko Tsuda, Metal Gear Rising’s lead animator Hirokazu Takeuchi, and Bayonetta animator Rei Yamamoto.
‘Many of our team members come from PlatinumGames,’ Koyama said. ‘These are people who have worked with me or with Kamiya during our time there. So most of our employees share this connection to Platinum.
Some of the team members at Clovers (Clovers)
‘They’re individuals who share a similar mindset. They were those who expressed a desire to continue working with us. But while most are from Platinum, several team members are acquaintances of mine from other companies and elsewhere.’
Since Clovers was announced at The Game Awards, several key employees at PlatinumGames have since removed the company from their social media accounts, leading to speculation that they might be among those who have left the company.
These include Metal Gear Rising director Kenji Saito, Astral Chain director Takahisa Taura, and Anarchy Reigns director Masaki Yamanaka. GameCentral has reached out to PlatinumGames and others for clarification.
One person who has definitely left PlatinumGames is Bayonetta Origins director Abebe Tinari, who confirmed his departure in a post on Bluesky on Sunday, December 15.
In a post on the platform, Tinari said he had moved from Osaka, Japan to Helsinki in Finland, although it’s unclear where he’ll be working.
‘I have seen some talk about directors departing PlatinumGames (in which I play a small part),’ Tinari wrote. ‘Games are not made by a single person. There are many talented artists, designers, programmers, and musicians still at PlatinumGames. I suggest you do not count them out yet. I can’t wait to see what they do next!’
What all these departures mean for the future of PlatinumGames remains to be seen. The studio was last known to be working on the mysterious Project G.G., which was announced in 2020 with Kamiya as director, but since he left the studio it’s unclear whether it is still in development.
Kamiya has alluded to a change in direction at PlatinumGames for the reason behind his departure, something he reiterated in the interview with VGC. ‘If I was satisfied with at Platinum, then I wouldn’t have left,’ he said.
‘There’s a way I believe games should be made: a philosophy, a mindset of how games should be made. Koyama approached me, and we shared the same mindset and philosophy about game development.
‘So, it was just us two together, but then, of course, a number of individuals felt the same way. That’s what led to the start of [Clovers]. I began my career at Capcom and then moved to Platinum, but my mindset for game development has remained the same throughout these transitions and throughout my career.’
While PlatinumGames has yet to comment on its future, it certainly seems like it’s the end of an era for the studio, whether it continues on or not. But considering that, beyond Project G.G., it currently has no new games scheduled it’s not looking good.
Nier: Automata was peak Platinum (Square Enix)
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