PlatinumGames Loses Another Key Developer to Housemarque
The departure of Abebe Tinari, director of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, from PlatinumGames to Housemarque, adds to the growing concerns surrounding PlatinumGames' future. This follows the high-profile exit of Hideki Kamiya, creator of the Bayonetta franchise, in September 2023. Kamiya's departure, attributed to creative differences, sparked initial worries, further fueled by the subsequent rumored departures of several top developers who scrubbed their social media of PlatinumGames mentions.
Tinari's move to Housemarque, a PlayStation-owned studio based in Helsinki, Finland, was confirmed via his LinkedIn profile. He's assumed a lead game designer position, likely contributing to Housemarque's currently unannounced new IP. This new project has been under development since the release of their critically acclaimed Returnal in 2021, with an anticipated reveal date no sooner than 2026.
The exodus of talent raises questions about the impact on PlatinumGames' upcoming projects. While the studio is celebrating Bayonetta's 15th anniversary, the possibility of a new entry in the series remains uncertain. Furthermore, the status of Project GG, a new IP spearheaded by Kamiya, is now shrouded in doubt given his departure and the overall shift in the studio's leadership. The long-term effects of these departures on PlatinumGames' future output remain to be seen.
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In short: The loss of Tinari, following Kamiya's exit and other rumored departures, significantly impacts PlatinumGames, casting uncertainty over the future of projects like Project GG and the Bayonetta series. Meanwhile, Housemarque gains a talented designer for their upcoming, yet-to-be-revealed title.
