Ex-PlatinumGames Dev Joins Sony's Housemarque

PlatinumGames Loses Key Director 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 series, in September 2023. Kamiya's departure, fueled by creative differences, sparked initial worries, further intensified by the subsequent rumored departures of several top developers, who scrubbed their social media profiles of any PlatinumGames affiliation.

Tinari's move to Housemarque in Helsinki, Finland, was confirmed via his LinkedIn profile, revealing his new role as a lead game designer. This suggests a significant contribution to Housemarque's currently unannounced new IP, a project the studio has been developing since the release of Returnal in 2021. While a reveal isn't expected before 2026, Tinari's expertise is likely to be instrumental in its development.

The impact of these departures on PlatinumGames remains uncertain. While the studio is celebrating Bayonetta's 15th anniversary, potentially hinting at a new installment, the future of Project GG, a new IP previously spearheaded by Kamiya, is now shrouded in doubt. The loss of key creative talent raises questions about the studio's ability to deliver on its ambitious projects. The situation underscores a period of significant change and uncertainty for the once-dominant developer.