Bayonetta Origins Director Gears Up at Housemarque

Key Departures at PlatinumGames and Housemarque's New Project

PlatinumGames, known for its stylish action titles, has experienced a significant exodus of key developers recently, raising questions about the studio's future trajectory. This follows the departure of Hideki Kamiya, the celebrated creator of Bayonetta, who cited creative differences with the studio's direction. His subsequent involvement with a Capcom Okami sequel further fueled speculation.

Adding to the uncertainty, Abebe Tinari, director of the critically-received Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, has left PlatinumGames. Tinari's move to Helsinki, Finland, was recently confirmed via his LinkedIn profile, revealing a new role as Lead Game Designer at Housemarque, the PlayStation-owned studio behind the acclaimed Returnal.

Tinari's expertise is likely to contribute to Housemarque's currently unannounced new intellectual property (IP), a project the studio has been developing since the 2021 release of Returnal. While a reveal date remains undisclosed, many anticipate an unveiling no sooner than 2026.

The Impact on PlatinumGames

The departure of several high-profile developers, including Tinari and Kamiya, leaves PlatinumGames' future projects shrouded in some uncertainty. While the studio is celebrating Bayonetta's 15th anniversary with a year-long event—potentially hinting at a new installment in the franchise—the status of Project GG, a new IP spearheaded by Kamiya, is now unclear. The impact of Kamiya's departure on Project GG's development timeline remains to be seen. The overall effect of these departures on PlatinumGames' upcoming titles warrants close observation.