Platinum Games is most known for Bayonetta, its stylish hack ‘n’ slash flagship series. Even so, the original Bayonetta was a pretty niche release, which made it difficult for Platinum to find funding for Bayonetta 2. Nintendo then stepped in, securing the release as a company exclusive, and it’s now pulled the same trick again by funding Bayonetta 3 for the Switch.
Speaking more about this, Hideki Kamiya posted a long statement on Twitter describing the behind the scenes development process of the series, ending with Bayonetta 3. It sounds like the upcoming release nearly didn’t get made, but we’ll almost certainly be glad it did when it comes out later this year. Here’s what was said:
I've got something I want to tell you all. It's about Bayonetta 3. We are a developer that creates games by signing contracts with publishers and receiving funds from them in order to cover development costs. For Bayonetta 1, we signed a contract with Sega and received funds from them, then we proposed a design for the game and entered production. All of the rights belong to Sega. At the time, our company had only just been established, and we weren't properly equipped for multiplatform development, so after discussing with Sega, we decided to develop the game exclusively for Xbox 360. However, after that, one of Sega's trading partners ended up making a port for PS3, at Sega's behest. More recently, they also decided that a Steam version should be developed, which was released last year. Sega owns the rights to all of these versions.
When we started making Bayonetta 2, we initially received funds from Sega to develop the game for multiple platforms, but the project was halted due to circumstances at Sega. Nintendo then stepped in to continue funding the game, allowing us to finish it. As such, the rights belong to Sega and Nintendo. The rights owners decided the game should be made for Wii U. Nintendo was also kind enough to fund a port of Bayo 1 for Wii U, and they even allowed us to use the Japanese voice track we created for the Wii U version in the PC version of Bayo 1 as well. I am extremely thankful to Nintendo for funding the game, and to Sega for allowing them to use the Bayonetta IP.
As for Bayonetta 3, it was decided from the start that the game was going to be developed using Nintendo's funding. Without their help, we would not have been able to kick off this project. All of the rights still belong to Sega and Nintendo. The rights owners decided that the game should be made for Switch. Game development is a business. Each company has its own circumstances and strategies. Sometimes this means games get made, sometimes it means they get cancelled. But I believe that every single person involved is dedicated to delivering the best possible experience. I know that, to me at least, that's one of the biggest goals when I set to work. I cannot express how happy I am that we get to make Bayonetta 3, and we intend to do everything within our power to make it as good as it can be. That's all we can do, and we consider it our greatest mission. It took a while for production of Bayonetta 3 to be okayed, but now that it has kicked off, I hope it will turn into a wonderful encounter for all of you.
What do you think? Will you be picking up Bayonetta 3? What did you think of Bayonetta 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 56
You go Nintendo, and yes, I'll be picking it up.
Absolutely picking it up. Also gonna double dip on Bayo 2.
"I hope it will turn into a WONDERFUL encounter for all of you" ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Nintendo stepped in and made the right choice of funding the games - it could be argued that Bayonetta 2 &1 on Wii u was where Nintendo started definitely realizing the potential of Mature content associated with their systems and the business potential along with it. No longer "just a kids console" , they definitely wanted to break that idea.
Nintendo need far more partnerships like this. They've very few as it stands.
Nintendo clearly made the right decision.
I was never able to find a copy of Bayo 1&2 so the only experience I have was from the demo and watching someone else play. I liked what I saw though, and I'm really looking forward to finally getting to play both games in a few days. I'm also pretty excited that there'll be a third game for me to play at some point in the future.
Knocking on wood here, but let's see if I can have such an encounter this weekend. I've been curious about this franchise for a while, even though - or maybe in part because? - I don't recall having much experience with DMC-like games (unless the relatively fast-paced combat of KH Birth by Sleep maps in any close proximity). Can't overstate the value of having all of it available on Switch soon.
“when it comes out later this year.“
What on EARTH are you talking about
Can’t wait!!!
I have high hopes for Bayonetta 3.
I’ll be triple dipping on 1 and double dipping on 2, so I’ve certainly been supporting this series.
It’s cool to read about the roles of Sega and Nintendo in getting the games made, kudos to Kamiya for his transparency.
I really hope that the Switch releases are a success, and more collaboration becomes a no brainier
@QwertyQwerty It won't. People are too stupid to take the time to read something like this and just continue bashing the games for being exclusive.
@xavieruniverse It's a pity that Nintendo aren't funding any more mature games for their systems. Only other that springs to mind was Devil's Third and that proved to be a disaster.
Day one buy for me, no thought needed.
So I can taste delicious tears of ignorant people, AGAIN!
"we’ll almost certainly be glad it did when it comes out later this year."
That's very presumptuous. To me, it sounds like the game is at the early stages and won't be out until next year at least from what Kamiya said:
"It took a while for production of Bayonetta 3 to be okayed, but now that it has kicked off, I hope it will turn into a wonderful encounter for all of you."
I can't throw my money across the counter quick enough for Bayo 3.
Nintendo, use all that money you've made and buy these guys as a 2nd or first party developer.
Surely you have enough to afford it.
Think of all those mature games and talent these guys have.
Oh and while you're at it fund a Viewtiful Joe sequel since Sega don't want to do anything with it.
@QwertyQwerty
Just have to look at the A Hat in Time story from yesterday to realise all port begging fans are as bad as each other regardless of which console they prefer. Though the initial backlash over Bayonetta 2 being a Ninty exlcusive was absolutely hilarious to witness.
Some user on Eurogamer had a meltdown again about it as recently as the Bayonetta 3 reveal haha.
Day one like a nervous twitch!
yes but power, specs etc....
Nice of Nintendo that they allowed the Japanse voice track on PC as well
Clearly a statement in response to usual calls for it to be multiplat. Nice to see though, from the horses mouth.
Clearly, the devs have a lot of assets/3D models, mechanics etc that can be used from the previous games.
They just need to polish a bit more but the base of the game is there.
So I don't think this project is a project that will cost a fortune to Nintendo but I also think that it will not be released this year.
The devs need time to add new features and create a nice setting for the game.
These guys have been around for a while now. Haven't they made enough to fund their own games yet? Didn't they own Nier Automata?
i just hope Bayonetta 3 will contain more changes than Bayonetta 2 compared to Bayonetta 1
@Dezzy Don't forget about Scalebound's cancellation, that caused major problems which were only resolved because of Nier Automata's success.
Fairs fair, Sony get Nier, MS get to cancel Scalebound and release a cool new controller instead, Switch gets Bayo.
Thank you Nintendo and Sega. I pre ordered Bayonetta 1 & 2 soon as It was available. Can’t wait!!! I never got a chance to play Bayonetta 2 but I loved the first one.
Bayonetta 3 is a day one must buy for me! Looking forward to it.
This needs to be updated with Bayonetta 3 now:
Props to Kamiya for telling it how it is.
There's no drama and no hatred or betrayal. Just business decisions and passionate creators.
Did the first Bayonetta actually do poorly on 360 and PS3 then?
It's one of my favourite 360 games and I preferred it over everything else in the genre like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden.
It has always baffled me how if it didn't sell well on two popular platforms they decided the right move was to release the sequel on the Wii U... It can't have sold well there.
Still, I'm just glad we're getting more of them.
i have to wonder just how late into the game development was greenlit. that by itself likely means it is't a 2018 game.
EDIT: this might also explain why the teaser had the old bay look. they might have just reused the assets to make the teaser and there aren't any new ones yet.
Been a fan of the series since the game came out on 360. So yeah, I’m getting Bayonetta 3.
Bayonetta 3 is a must buy for me.
Already own Bayonetta 1+2 First Print Limited Edition, but i also own Bayo 1 on PS3 and 360.
@FragRed fatal frame
One would think everyone already knew everything he's restating here. Publishing contracts have only worked this way for 200 years or so....internet's still catching up?
I adore Bayonetta. I had it in the 360 and I was happy a sequel was announced. Good thing I was a Nintendo gamer and had a Wii U. Kind of felt bad for those that didn’t.
@AyanamiReign Both versions sold over a million on platforms that had a user base in the 10s of millions. I’m sure Sega was disappointed in sales, but green lit a sequel with hope that the used game market would make the second game more successful.
I don’t think Bayonetta 2 cracked a million. But that’s not a surprise. It was a sequel to a game that didn’t see release on a Ninrendo console, and it released on Wii U which only had a small fraction of a user base compared to the PS3 and 360. I’m sure Bayonetta 2s numbers were not surprising. You gotta consider the game to. It’s a very Japanese game. There are some gamers that’ll refuse to buy it because they are prudes. There are other gamers who won’t buy it because they don’t want to look effeminate. Also add into the mix of its genre being kind of niche and you get a hard selling game.
@Dezzy Nier isn't their IP. They were brought on to make it akin to Metal Gear Rising.
@Freek Capcom owns Viewtiful Joe.
Absolutely getting Bayo3!
If I'd still been on the fence getting a Switch this would have tipped the scales. Fantastic series 😀
@BlackenedHalo I guess we’ll probably get a straight sequel, but I remember Kamiya saying (a couple of years ago, I think) he wanted to take the franchise in a different direction with the third game as he felt the base formula was almost as polished as it could possibly be.
Edit: not that a straight sequel wouldn’t make me happy ahahahaha
Good on Nintendo for funding Bayo 3 and big ups to Sega to approving the go ahead on the development. I'm glad Kamiya explained who owns the rights to the bayo series because i was always somewhat confused by that.
@Dezzy Game development is more complicated. As Kamiya said, platinum is a studio that makes games by making contracts with publisher (most devs are). They need the external funding in order to make games. P* games have never sold all that amazingly well despite their quality. Nier Automata is owned by Square enix but was developed by p* similar to how metal gear rising is owned by konami and star fox zero is owned by Nintendo despite both being platinum developed titles.
@NEStalgia "One would think everyone already knew everything he's restating here. Publishing contracts have only worked this way for 200 years or so."
Yep but we're dealing with gamers here...
Hell yeah!
I 'm getting this DAY ONE. I want to finish this wonderfull story. If anyone didnt play 1 or 2. ASAP buy and play them!!!
You must be ready for Bayo 3.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Definitely more partnerships like these.
Nintendo needs to reincarnate some of the finest forgotten games.
I would be excited to see some or all of the below forgotten franchises as switch exclusives
@WiltonRoots Ooooohhh.....good point....
@WiltonRoots Does this comment section warrant a bingo card?
@Grumblevolcano
Was that their own thing? Wasn't that funded by microsoft?
@Ryu_Niiyama Nah I don't think it's that bad, the Ubisoft thread seems to be heading that way though...
@Dezzy The cancellation means the end of funding, which means less money for PlatinumGames.
Bayonetta 3 is a day 1 buy for me - will always support any new Bayonetta regardless of system. But with so many good new games out No point in buying Bayonetta 2 right now. And the best way to play Bayonetta 1 is on PC by a mile anyway.
Gotta play through the first two first, but Bayo 3 will probably end up a day one buy for me. Pretty nice how the entire Bayonetta series will end up on the Switch once 3 comes out.
Platinum: Dev for hire, for the right price
Whatever the reason, I'm just glad we are getting Bayo 3 and I can't wait to play it.
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