Hideki Kamiya, the mastermind behind Bayonetta and The Wonderful 101, announces his departure from PlatinumGames. In a move that few saw coming, Hideki Kamiya, the co-founder and vice-president of PlatinumGames, announced his departure from the company, officially leaving on October 12th, 2023.
For those who might not be familiar with the name, Kamiya has been a critical figure in the gaming world, especially within PlatinumGames, since its inception in 2007. He’s the lead behind major titles such as Bayonetta, The Wonderful 101, and Sol Cresta. Not just limiting himself to directing, Kamiya has also played pivotal roles in supporting other internal projects at the company.
In a statement, PlatinumGames expressed their gratitude for Kamiya’s invaluable contributions, stating their appreciation for his “creative ideas, leadership, and contribution to the growth of PlatinumGames.” The company remains optimistic about the gaming industry’s future and believes that Kamiya will continue to shine in his future endeavours as a game creator.
Kamiya himself has shed some light on his decision, mentioning that it was a result of deep contemplation based on his personal beliefs. He emphasized that it wasn’t an easy decision but believes it’s for the best. Fans of Kamiya can rest assured he is not done with gaming, and in his words, he will “continue to create in my Hideki Kamiya way” and that he hopes we will keep our “eyes peeled.” Given his track record, we can expect interesting work from him in the future.
This departure has raised eyebrows, especially considering Kamiya’s recent remarks about the Bayonetta franchise. Just last December, he expressed his ambition to develop Bayonetta 4 and Bayonetta 5, even sharing some of his ideas for these potential sequels. This has led to speculations about whether there might have been a divergence in visions between Kamiya and PlatinumGames.
Kamiya’s career began at Capcom, where he directed iconic games like Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, and Viewtiful Joe. He later directed Ōkami at the Capcom-owned Clover studio. Before co-founding PlatinumGames, he collaborated with industry giants like Shinji Mikami and Atsushi Inaba. His most recent project at PlatinumGames was Project G.G., which is described as the climax of Kamiya’s superhero trilogy, following Viewtiful Joe and The Wonderful 101.
Only time will reveal Kamiya’s next move, but one thing’s for sure: the gaming world will be eagerly watching to see what he does next.
