Recent reports indicate a significant exodus of top-tier developers and staff from PlatinumGames, a studio renowned for its engaging action games. Their latest release, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, debuted in 2023, showcasing the studio’s ongoing creative efforts.
The gaming community was taken aback when Hideki Kamiya, a co-founder and prominent figure in the industry, announced his departure from the company after a remarkable 15-year career. Alongside Kamiya, other founding members, including Shinji Mikami, Atsushi Inaba, and Tatsuya Minami, helped shape PlatinumGames’ legacy. Following Kamiya’s exit, reports emerged that more developers may have left the studio throughout December.
Recent Departures of High-Level Developers from PlatinumGames
Looks like a lot of PlatinumGames veterans have left the studio. by u/PlatinumGamesFanboy in PlatinumGamesInc
As highlighted by the user PlatinumGamesFanboy on the r/PlatinumGamesInc subreddit, a number of veteran developers have notably adjusted their social media profiles, omitting any reference to their affiliation with PlatinumGames. Noteworthy names such as Kenji Saito, Takahisa Taura, Masaki Yamanaka, and Abebe Tinari have deleted mentions of the studio from their Twitter handles. Significantly, Saito removed “PlatinumGames”from his location, which is now left blank. Additionally, Abebe Tinari, known for directing Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, confirmed he has relocated out of Japan entirely.
I haven’t had a reason to update my profile text for several years now…although it’s only one word, this is a big one!— Abebe Tinari (@tinari.bsky.social)2024-12-13T19:01:04.165Z
https://t.co/fdkY1aHE51 Seeing tons of Capcom/Clover OGs in the Clovers website pics. And Machine Head Works is Minami-san’s co-dev studio, so even more over there! LET’S GO!! There is SOOO much I wish I could say… But I’ll leave it at sometimes platinum does lose its luster. — JP Kellams (@synaesthesiajp) December 13, 2024
Let me put it this way – everyone I would work with again doesn’t work there anymore. Inaba-san remade the place in his own vision, and it is a vision that I don’t think resonates with the people who made Platinum special. https://t.co/f184J1H8AB — JP Kellams (@synaesthesiajp) December 14, 2024
These individuals have played pivotal roles in developing some of PlatinumGames’ most acclaimed titles. Kenji Saito directed Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Transformers: Devastation, while Takahisa Taura led the team for Astral Chain in 2019. Concurrently, Masaki Yamanaka contributed as a designer and director for Anarchy Reigns. JP Kellams, an alumnus of the studio, recently commented on Twitter about the evolving landscape at Platinum Games, expressing sentiments that suggest a diminishing appeal for the studio’s original allure. While these changes have sparked plenty of speculation, no official confirmations surrounding these departures have been disclosed as of yet.
In his recent statements, Kamiya elaborated on his decision to depart from PlatinumGames, citing a growing divergence between the company’s direction and his vision as a developer. After his exit from the studio, he is now gearing up to launch Clovers, a new development team under Capcom. His inaugural project post-Platinum, a long-awaited sequel to Okami, was announced at The Game Awards 2024 and will feature a collaboration with many former members of Clover Studio.
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