Former Bayonetta Origins Director Joins Sony\'s Housemarque

PlatinumGames Loses Key Developer to Housemarque

The director of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, Abebe Tinari, has left PlatinumGames to become a lead game designer at Housemarque, the studio behind the acclaimed Returnal. This departure adds to the recent upheaval at PlatinumGames, fueling concerns about the studio's future direction.

PlatinumGames has experienced a significant exodus of key personnel. In September 2023, Hideki Kamiya, the studio's most prominent developer and creator of Bayonetta, departed, citing creative differences. His subsequent announcement as the head of development for Capcom's Okami sequel at The Game Awards 2024, resurrecting Clover Studio, further heightened anxieties surrounding PlatinumGames' trajectory.

Following the Okami sequel reveal, rumors circulated about additional high-profile departures from PlatinumGames, with several developers removing all mentions of the studio from their social media. Tinari's move to Helsinki, Finland, and his subsequent LinkedIn update confirming his new role at Housemarque, confirms these suspicions.

Tinari's Contribution to Housemarque's New IP

Since the release of Returnal in May 2021 and its subsequent acquisition by PlayStation, Housemarque has been developing a new, unannounced IP. Tinari's expertise is likely to contribute significantly to this project. While a release date remains undisclosed, many anticipate an announcement no sooner than 2026.

The Future of PlatinumGames Remains Uncertain

The impact of these recent departures on PlatinumGames' future projects is still unclear. While the studio recently announced a year-long celebration for Bayonetta's 15th anniversary, potentially hinting at a new installment, the future of Project GG, a new IP in development since 2020 under Hideki Kamiya's direction, is now questionable. Kamiya's departure leaves the project's progress uncertain.