Former Bayonetta Origins Director Joins Sony\'s Housemarque

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 profiles of any PlatinumGames affiliation.

Tinari's move to Housemarque, confirmed via his LinkedIn profile, sees him taking on a lead game designer role. Housemarque, the studio behind the acclaimed Returnal, has been developing a new, unannounced IP since its acquisition by PlayStation in 2021, and Tinari's expertise is likely to contribute significantly to this project. While a reveal date remains undisclosed, speculation points towards a 2026 unveiling at the earliest.

The impact of these departures on PlatinumGames remains uncertain. While the studio is celebrating Bayonetta's 15th anniversary, potentially hinting at a new installment in the series, the future of Project GG, a new IP previously led by Kamiya, is now shrouded in doubt. The loss of key creative talent raises questions about the studio's ongoing projects and overall direction. The situation underscores a period of significant transition and uncertainty for the once-dominant action game developer.