Bayonetta Director Hideki Kamiya to Leave PlatinumGames

Sounds like PG is getting bought out from the statements and he was against it. Wouldn't surprise me since their last good selling Game was NieR Automata

@MagisterMagi not necessarily. It could just be that he is falling on the sword for the failure of Babylon Falls.

Maybe NetEase reached him? like they did with Nagoshi

@cragis0001 Nah, "based on my own beliefs" sounds like a takover he didnt agree to

Really do wonder whatever happened to that project G.G game. A tokusatsu game developed by Platinum sounds awesome so I really hope it sees the light of day.

Probably got a nice gig at NetEase.

Wonder what’ll happen to Bayonetta? Doubt he would be poached by Nintendo & Bayo without Kamiya isn’t going to work.

Platinum haven't been good in a very long time so he must be jumping ship.

I didn’t realize that one of the founders of PlatinumGames was the director of RE2 and Okami. Very different games compared to the typical style of Platinum.

But yeah, there’s something strange going on over at PlatinumGames. The studio seems to have lost its way since Babylon’s Fall. This would appear to confirm that. It’s a weird quote too — leaving “based on his own beliefs.” Not sure what that means.

Probably Microsoft cooking something for Japan and is hiring him. That or Nintendo is buying Platinum and he doesn't agree.

He's gonna start his own company and make his own "strand-type" of game

@Sil_Am I doubt MS really wants anything to do with him. They are still hurting from the cancellation of Scale bound, and Hideki Kamiya was responsible for the team in charge of that game.

@Fight_Teza_Fight Bayo will be fine. He hasn’t been in the director chair since the first. He’s just been supervising the last 2 and the prequels.

@cragis0001 Why would he “fall on the sword” for a game he wasn’t responsible for?

@Sil_Am Nah Nintendo and Kamiya have a great relationship. Kamiya probably wouldn't mind working for Nintendo.

As you put it in the headline "Bayonetta Director". This guy hasn't made a good game since Bayo in 2009, so..not really fussed about him leaving.
Even Platinum is kind of damaged goods at the moment, they've been more "miss" than "hit" lately.

@themightyant YES! Okami really needs a sequel.

@MagisterMagi that’s what I got from it as well. Perhaps not a takeover, but a pivot in a direction he didn’t agree with. It’s not like the guy is perfect, wonderful 101 was pretty messy, but one things he’s been consistent with is cohesive gameplay without extra fluff. PG has been making some weird choices lately and that tencent investment was really a red flag for many.

@DeathlySW It could be because of the whole live service mess. Babylon's Fall flopped but didn't make them give up on live service. Now the live service graveyard is a lot bigger than it was in October 2022.

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2022/10/colossal-flop-babylons-fall-hasnt-changed-platinums-plans-for-more-live-service-games

I've enjoyed the games he had a hand in making, like RE, DMC, Okami and Bayo. Curious to see what happens with Platinum now.

The way he’s been demonised recently is insane. Guy’s responsible for entire genre shifts. The way it’s worded makes me think it’s a hostile takeover that he doesn’t agree with.

Well this is something I did not expect to read today. I can only say: good luck with everything from here on Kamiya.

@DennisReynolds Define "a very long time" because Astral Chain and Bayonetta 3 were absolutely incredible games.

Well, I guess that's it for Platinum Games. I won't expect anything great from them ever again.

Well... if they were bought by Nintendo that would be a good thing. They seem to give them the time they need to make good games.
If it's Microsoft buying them, they are done. Might as well close down.
If it's someone else... we will have to see. I guess SEGA is also involved with them.

If it's the live service trend, he is completely right. It's more than saturated already.

@__jamiie AC was ok but far from Platinum's best and Bayo 3 was pretty awful, its basically gimmick the game with an insult of an ending and a dreadful new protagonist whose basically DMC4 Nero but far more cringe.

He will be missed I hope his future endeavours pan out as I love his games. Rooting for him!

For his efforts with the Clover/Platinum transition (creative games you have a cult following buy and has succeeded so far), to now the trendy Platinum (with whatever directors/staff execution) and the last impression he had on Tango I do wonder what he does next.

If a Netease situation like the other then hmmmmm. What will come of that who knows. For funding sure. For other aspects it makes us wonder what will happen, what the deals were, why we gain from these creatives going to such companies, for the pay, or for the creativity if they have freedom to do so.

I like Kamiya's old and new focus in an article I read a few months/year back. Hope he makes some great stuff with a new studio (clearly not retiring just pulling away from Platinum).

For Platinum I do wonder but while I don't always go company/staff focused I do think their games have dipped in quality. Depends what they make but I do my research on games to see if they are for me.

Many have done some interesting from Yooka Laylee from old Rare devs, Bloodstained/Azure Gunvolt and such of old/nostalgia.

But new takes on them while Gal Gun (also Inti Creates), Nightingale (prior Bioware staff), whatever Judas ends up being (from past Inflection or the notable name there I forget right now) and other games I haven't listed show some other interesting directions for companies and veterans making new Independent studios to do some cool stuff.

The Suda51 and I forget the other person mentioned new 2D hack n slash will be cool.

I'm fine with interesting new ideas or old school from time to time from acclaimed creators.

Bayonetta 2 was a great sequel (but like Rayman 3 to Rayman 2 you do wonder how things would go with such people in charge besides the differences).

I need to finish Wonderful101 Remastered at some point.

Babylon's Fall had ideas but Square or Platinum did make it kind of eh and well I don't play live services/don't buy PS+ so wasn't interested (I play a bit of it as a friend bought it, it was fine).

Sol Cresta was cool, Bayonetta 3 was 'fine' but I didn't like the trending content and the Astral Chain multiple character thing I hated in DMC5 doing it prior and I hated in Bayo 3. Hence I liked Valkyria Elysium more for going a different direction same with Wanted Dead for my hack n slashes the past generation.

this is pretty surprising news to be honest. things have looked rocky at platinum for a while now (and let's try to forget about their stint with activision), but bayonetta 3 and nier automata were great. i am still amiss as to why nintendo has not acquired them yet — platinum clearly needs some financial security and nintendo would be a perfect home for them. all the best to kamiya. he is a legend.

@MagisterMagi or he doesn't believe in the direction the company is heading.

@AverageGamer he's also an executive vice president to the company so would have a say in how the company is run & probably aware of the issues involving Babylon Falls.