Hideki Kamiya, Japanese game designer and one of the creators of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, is leaving PlatinumGames. He noted that it “was by no means an easy decision to make.”
Hideki Kamiya (Image credit: SEGA Europe)
PlatinumGames announced Kamiya’s departure today, saying he will be leaving the studio on October 12.
“We are truly grateful for his creative ideas, leadership, and contribution to the growth of PlatinumGames from our start-up to this very day,” the statement reads. “We believe that he will continue to succeed in his future endeavors as a game creator. We are looking forward to seeing the game industry grow into a better place with him in it.”
— PlatinumGames Inc. (@platinumgames) September 25, 2023
The game designer also commented on the news: “This came after a lot of consideration based on my own beliefs and was by no means an easy decision to make.” He didn’t share his future plans, only saying that he “will continue to create in my Hideki Kamiya way.”
However, I feel this outcome is for the best.
I will continue to create in my Hideki Kamiya way.
I hope you’ll keep your eyes peeled.
(2/2)— 神谷英樹 Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) September 25, 2023
Hideki Kamiya started his game development career at Capcom in 1994. He worked as one one of the planners/designers on the first Resident Evil. After the game’s success, Kamiya went on to direct its sequel and then Devil May Cry.
After the closure of Capcom’s subsidiary Clover Studio in 2007, where he worked on games like Ōkami and Viewtiful Joe, Kamiya co-founded PlatinumGames together with the two other Capcom veterans, Shinji Mikami and Atsushi Inaba.
Between 2007 and 2023, he created the Bayonetta franchise and worked on titles such as The Wonderful 101 and Sol Cresta.
It is worth noting that Shinji Mikami also no longer works at PlatinumGames, as he founded Tango Gameworks in 2010 and created The Evil Within series. So it is interesting to see whether Kamiya will start his own studio or join another game company.