Former Bayonetta Origins Director Joins Sony\'s Housemarque

Summary

• The director of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, Abebe Tinari, has left PlatinumGames to take on a lead game designer role at Returnal developer Housemarque.
• PlatinumGames has experienced several key developer departures recently, raising concerns about the studio's current direction.
• Housemarque has been developing a new IP since the release of Returnal in 2021.

The director of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, Abebe Tinari, has departed from PlatinumGames to join Housemarque, the developers of Returnal. This move comes at a time when PlatinumGames is facing uncertainty, highlighted by the exit of key creative talents, including Tinari himself.

In September 2023, PlatinumGames saw the departure of its renowned developer, Hideki Kamiya, who cited a misalignment with the studio's direction as his reason for leaving. Kamiya, the creator of the Bayonetta series, later announced at The Game Awards 2024 that he would lead the development of a sequel to Okami at a revived Clover Studio under Capcom. This announcement, while exciting for fans, sparked further concerns about PlatinumGames' future.

Following Kamiya's departure, other top developers at PlatinumGames, including Tinari, began to remove mentions of the studio from their social media profiles. Tinari, who directed Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon in 2023, relocated to Helsinki, Finland, and has now joined Housemarque as a lead game designer.

Bayonetta Origins Director Now Working on Housemarque's New IP

Housemarque's most recent release was the critically acclaimed roguelike shooter Returnal in May 2021. After its acquisition by PlayStation, the studio has been working on a new IP, and Tinari's expertise is expected to contribute significantly to this project. While an official announcement of Housemarque's next game is not anticipated until at least 2026, fans are eager to see what the studio has in store.

As for PlatinumGames, the impact of these high-profile departures on future projects remains uncertain. The studio recently announced a year-long celebration for the 15th anniversary of Bayonetta, which may include news of a new installment in the series. Additionally, PlatinumGames has been developing a new IP called Project GG since 2020, which was initially led by Hideki Kamiya. With Kamiya's departure, the progress and direction of Project GG are now unclear.