Hideki Kamiya Reveals Why He Left PlatinumGames

Okay, that final quote made me chuckle a little bit.

Well times changed and studio change-that's how it falls it seems nowdays. But creativity is what sustains a game platform and continues to create more games that everyone can enjoy.

This is about tencent, isn't it?

So I'm guessing he wants nothing to do with their attempts to pivot into live-service, especially after the first try, Babylon's Fall, was a genuine dumpster fire? Crazy how Platinum hasn't thought about, y'know...not trying to enter an increasingly disliked type of game market that's producing diminishing returns

He didn't direct anything since Wonderful 101 and the canceled Scalebound, I think his ego is way too inflated. Also a reminder he was writing the stories for most of Platinum's games which is easily the worse part of their games. The one good story was Nier which he had no involvement with whatsoever. I look forward to seeing what Platinum creates without Kamiya.

@Specters What ego? He disagreed with whatever’s been going on at Platinum (presumably something to do with tencent’s involvement) and it didn’t feel right for him to stay, that’s it. Fair play to him

Follow your heart where possible. Good message, if vaguely delivered.

@nimnio He also acknowledged that some of them thought his decision was irresponsible. I don't see you criticizing him there as well. Not sure why they're so many salty people picking apart everything when he appears on the news either. It's like y'all getting a medal for it or something.

I bet Platinum finally developed the spine to tell him to get off of Twitter, or else he'll be held accountable for his harmful comments and hostile behavior against their customers. And that's when he quit.

Well, Bayonetta is dead now, without him. And 3 already wasn't the greatest, so...

@HeroponRiki Probably!

Platinum is pretty much dead now, the Platinum that made Bayo, Vanquish and MGRR is long gone.

Im almost sure it has to do with TENCENT

@DennisReynolds naah… we’ve gotten amazing games like Nier, Astral Chain, W101 and the Bayonetta sequels.
They will be fine.

Translation: "Tencent offered me a big check and I couldn't resist."

This reminds me of a certain Hideo Kojima. Although it doesn't seem to be as messy.

About Platinum, their game quality has been so inconsistent, it will take a while before we know if him leaving will affect the company

His mouth is his tiger now.

@DennisReynolds Based on what? In the last 6 years they’ve only put out Nier Automata, Sol Cresta, Bayonetta 3/Origins, Astral Chain, TW101 Remastered and Babylon’s Fall. The only major dud there was Babylon’s Fall, Bayo 3 wasn’t as good as the other 2 but was still decent, Sol Cresta is apparently pretty good and Astral Chain/Nier are top tier. I don’t understand where the “Platinum sucks now” rhetoric comes from, I’ve seen it a lot.

Things have started going downhill internally it seems so we’ll see how future games suffer as a result but purely based on their recent output I wouldn’t say they’re “dead” at all

@MirrorFate2 Bayonetta 3 was awesome, and the story will make complete sense after #4 comes out... just like with #1 and #2.
I'm sure PG knows what to do to ensure a successful future for this amazing franchise.

I'll be honest, I've already been a bit concerned about their recent output but the guy most associated with your company leaving the company after releasing a terrible, failed live service game and specifically citing that the company is disinterested in games as anything but products, is a really, really bad sign.

I hope I'm wrong. Platinum has always stood out as a unique and often great developer willing to make their own crazy action games with relatively high production values in an era where nearly everything is either AAA and samey or indie and under budget. There'd be an immediate gap in gaming with actually nothing except maybe DMC6 to replace it.

I don’t understand the critique of Kamiya’s “ego”.

Kojima and him, whether you like or dislike them, their work are relevant and important to an industry driven by profit and Fortnite wannabes. Their work, whether financially or critically successful, pushes the industry forward. Their “failures” are often times their best work.

Kamiya isn’t being a narcissist. He knows of his place in the industry. Sure he may fall. But at this point, I am certain there ARE developers who look up to him or at least respect his approach and attitude to want to work with him. He pointing this out only shows his awareness of how this decision to leave Platinum is not decided easily. He knows it will affect others. Who knows? Those developers who wanted to work with him may join him onward.

There is always an element of “ego” or more rightly, confidence when it comes to auteurs like him and Kojima. It may not be the self-deprecating modest role model or whatever attitude we “expect” them to be.

It takes guts and a little bit of confidence and belief in yourself to leave a company driven by profit and chart your own creative course.

I wish him the best. “Failures” are not always what they seem. He is, at least, living his life according to his own values.

Reminds of an old producer I worked with back in 1992 on some really popular PC games. He was always full of his own legend about being a programmer and producer. He was let go, and thought he’s be able to make “legendary” and “god-like” games on his own. Nothing came of his other projects. He got into the Dot-Com trend and disappeared to Italy or somewhere, not as a video game anything, just a handyman or something.

Anyway, this guy reminds of that guy.

@Yalloo Nonsense.

@MirrorFate2 Sacrilège!

Welp gotta do what you gotta do.

Always loved his no ducks given attitude! You can easily tell what games he had full control over and ones he didn't, clearly it's been a long ass time since he had it. The most recent Platinum games were incredibly disappointing.

Ah, the perennial struggle between the artist and their corporate benefactors. The artist may have a vision for how they want their project to go, but the business they work for wants to go in a different direction because they feel it would be more profitable. Thus, the two go their separate ways due to those differences in creative vision and ideals.

I myself dealt with this when I attended a screenwriting workshop put on by a somewhat prolific Hollywood producer (he produced movies like Spy Kids and Bridge to Terabithia). My script was a sci-fi where the main protagonist was an AI who could project herself via hologram (kind of like Cortana from Halo), but he wanted to take the story in a different direction and give the AI a physical body and have a relationship with one of the human characters.

Ultimately, I never did try to pitch my script to the studios, as I felt like the final product was not in keeping with my vision. I simply wasn't proud of the final product. I even told this to an associate of his when I saw her several years later at the grocery store I used to work at. She sympathized with me, agreeing that the producer did have a tendency to have his own ideas for film pitches that come his way.

So I do get it. Hideki Kamiya may be an acquired taste when it comes to his personality (even I think he comes off as abrasive at times), but I do sympathize with his plight as an artist going up against a corporate machine who would stifle unfettered creativity for the sake of padding the bottom line.

@larryisaman Buddy if you're don't think Kamiya has a major ego then you really don't know anything about Kamiya. Take a look at his Twitter feed and you'll get a good picture of the guy.

@Lightsiyd The thing you need to understand about Japanese culture is that there is a HUGE emphasis placed on company loyalty. In many Japanese companies, loyalty to your employer comes above all else, even your own family. There is the expectation that the company you joined when you were younger will be the company you remain in until you retire.

If you quit to find employment elsewhere, it reflects negatively on you, with your bosses and coworkers thinking that you are betraying them. It feeds into another Japanese cultural mindset of not rocking the boat and standing out. People who quit their jobs instead of being corporate drones end up rocking the boat, a BIG no-no in Japanese culture.

So of course some of his colleagues would tell Hideki Kamiya that him quitting is irresponsible. I am by no means a fan of his, but this does most likely stem from that mentality of company loyalty and not rocking the boat. They're most likely trying to shame and pressure him into staying and do what they tell him to do.

@AstroTheGamosian Thanks for the expo. I saw a piece of similar information when I watched a YouTube about new tax laws affecting freelancer animators in Japan, but this just reinforces it.

kojima already cornered this market bruh

The distinction between ‘having an ego’ and ’having principles’ can be tenuous at times, and in this case there’s almost certainly a good mix of both at play.

Regardless, the end decision is one I ultimately respect: if you can’t change the machine from within, better to cut yourself free than remain tethered as it veers further and further off course (or worse, self-destructs entirely).

Naturally, it helps to have established oneself somewhat before making these kind of decisions. Platinum probably needed Kamiya more than Kamiya needed Platinum. He’s no doubt financially secure enough to ride out this period of unemployment, and has made enough of a name for himself to have plenty of opportunities to move onto something else when the time is right.

Such decisions are not always easy to make. We’re all chained to machines to some extent, and rarely have the luxury to examine whether they truly meet our ideals. In the words of Kazuo Ishiguro, “we’re all butlers.”

Still, I’m glad Kamiya got out, and I’m glad he seems to be enjoying it. I’m not exactly his biggest fan, but I fully support this decision.

What he’s said makes perfect sense games are a form of art and creativity not just a rushed out product to make more profits Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto has offered sage-like words during the Computer Entertainment Developers Conference. He warned video game companies and publishers not to be too greedy with consumers and says that it naturally has a habit of backfiring and devalues brands and companies. He talked about free to play games Vs regular games with fixed prices

“My work with PlatinumGames was based on a relationship of trust with the company… Without that element of trust, I couldn’t continue working there.” Welcome to the world, son. Good luck.

I mean platinum tried to go into live service games, not so sure it is happening anymore after a certain incident...

I hope he can find new job or maybe make a new studio soon. I enjoyed platinum games (bayonetta series, nier) and I hope platinum will be fine without him too.

Why there's many salty people in this thread, maybe kamiya blocked them on twitter lol.

Don't forget Platinum also got dumped from Granblue Fantasy Relink.

@Nancyboy I think it’s fair to say Lady Luck has been kinder to Mr. Kamiya than most.

If anyone can afford to indulge such lofty (perhaps even naive and self-absorbed) ideals, it’s someone who has already worked their way to a senior position within the industry.

Having been in the industry for decades and developed multiple acclaimed video games in that time, this is not exactly a world he’s new to.

@nimnio Calumny and detraction are serious things. We ought to give others the judgement of charity rather than assuming what is in their heart.

The guy made some good games

Also the same guy that hates english speaking people and called them insects.

Mixed feelings about him, you can be the best at what you do and people love your work.

But acting like that to a certain group is just not done.

Kamiya is a drama queen and has an inflated ego.

That said Platinum signed with a devil with the Tencent deal and anyone with a brain could see that Kamiya’s time at the dev had an expiration date on it after that.

He is a great talent, but I agree with him being a bit too much of "a diva" and I expect he can be difficult to work with. Bet he broke a whole host of workplace rules as well and got away with it in the past. Or maybe there was an active counter on those breaches, lol. Maybe it certainly wasn't all him, corps can be an ass to work with themselves (I know this from my work where ethics are important). An inevitability in all this seems apparent to me though and tbh.

Part of me liked him but, I have been on the hostile end of him on twitter way back when I had an account on that cesspool app. Think it was over "Bayonetta for Smash" way before she was introduced as a character. Or maybe well before it was decided she would be introduced, lol. It was an appreciative comment on my behalf of his work.

Anyway I hope he does find work but he has been a talent in the industry.

We have to remember any live stream or online aka Sony terminating their steaming services even for paid customers. So this online stuff can be a tricky thing to deal with.

@Specters He was also directing Project G.G before leaving.

@Yoshif3 Platinum doesn't even OWN the Astral Chain IP anymore. Nintendo does.

I'm sure he's just taking a break for now and will return somewhere else, possibly with his own company.

As for Platinum, they are pretty much worthless now that he left.

@FrowardCoast440 and what does that have to do with their quality or ability to produce good games?
Nier is Square’s, Bayonetta is Sega’s.
So?

Also, they never actually owned the Astral Chain IP

I was embarrassed playing Bayo. I get why people dig it, but marionetting a writhing, scantily clad lady around with the most cringe, male-gaze camera in a mainstream game made me want to shower. I don't care if you dig it, and the reasoning. Grossed me out.

Wonderful 101 was a work of art and was extremely underrated back when it came out and during the kickstarter re-release. I guess we get the games we deserve after all. Why bother making a very polished product when you can simply squeeze another sequel? No doubt they'll keep milking Bayonetta just like Fire Emblem.

Maybe he could shack up with Yuji Naka. ^^

Somewhat disappointing news but I hope he’s able to continue making great games. I don’t understand why people get so caught up over stuff he says on Twitter. Your first problem isn’t that you’ve seen his tweets it’s the fact that you have a Twitter account. It’s probably the biggest cesspool on the internet and idk why people even scroll on that god awful place but whatever. Besides I try not to judge a game developer’s worth based on how good of a dinner guest they’d make, I judge them based on whether or not they make good games. Platinum has more hits than misses imo but since tencents investment I’ll be looking much more closely at how their future games turn out. It would be a shame if they got ruined because they let themselves get bossed around into pumping out rushed games.

Not surprised. Also art versus products. When they are products yes but when seen as such they do have more issues sometimes, too much to make some of us customers enjoy the games. When they are art they can be more enjoyable and we can see past them as a product in a way. We respect the teams/people involved more. So as art it makes sense. Instead of competing too directly all the time, he made games he was satisfied with and I can tell.

At least some staff cared that much, but if some of us see what he means based on what worlds, what game design we want/appreciate it's not surprising those who saw what a certain way and those that don't but also seek other design directions as well.

They will be the one thing they made sure they wouldn't be when they started. They were Clover made interesting games that didn't sell but were amazing in ideas and execution for the time, I mean Okami is still put in HD ports/remasters yet their others aren't. Godhand has the moveset/camera angle and more Ryse, God of War and Hellblade all use nowadays. Yes yes RE4 sure but still. Even if they take after Last of Us or Gears and the strafe focus of those games camera/movement. But Godhand has a better combat system even back in 2006.

Separated from Capcom to form Platinum with many interesting game ideas to spin on action games and now follow trends. Why even bother. I get they need a balance they can't 'always' stand out but they may too much over time and be just another studio making generic games.

I mean even with the many shooters I've played with interesting ideas they still were one offs and overlooked. Good ideas for abilities, ok level design, not strong in other areas though. Vanquish is interesting besides the Max Payne/Wet and more slow motion direction. I mean out of Front Mission Evolved (Square), Vanquish (Platinum/Sega), Binary Domain (Yakuza team/Sega), Quantum Theory (Koei Tecmo) and more of Japanese shooters of PS3/360 gen which is on current gen platforms of PS/Xbox, Vanquish. Also it had no multiplayer, like Black 2006, a bold move but I mean it was to their strengths, it didn't need multiplayer it was and is a solid game.

Trust sure, difference of game design it's very noticeable. Him focusing on some old but new is great to see, I always like that when studios do that. I mean WRC 2023, Sega GT car builder, Ride 4&5, Forza Motorsport 1 & 2 region system. Resistance 3 Ratchet level up system and very much that studio's DNA of ideas, Resistance 2, lost identity.

No Man's Sky furthers what Haven Call of the King/Star Wars Battlefront 3 (the cancelled one) could do of seamless space travel. Starfield can't even do that. Mass Effect Andromeda couldn't either with it's old design ideas. Graphics or tech and game design focus.

If the story fails it's on the game design if the game design fails well you need a good story/other aspects to make people care to get through it, one of a few factors that hold higher value need to stick or else.

Bayonetta Origins is a fair idea, like Pentiment, like Song of the Deep these more smaller scale projects and well I think Origins made sense as a prequel that way/new audience but still something for Bayonetta fans. I'm for it I appreciate it existing I'm open to different direction and play many genres.

I mean Sol Cresta was a very interesting surprise but a move I can easily understand. Bayonetta 3's direction felt like oh it's borrowed from Astral Chain or DMC5 the awkward camera/summoning system. I hated it, it ruined the game for me. The rest was 'fine' but even still it was the worst to control for me in both Bayo 3 and DMC5 with V's character. It felt like a playing catchup or not as varied.

Platinum making licensed games to make money in PS3/360 sure I get why their design was that way of similar to their other games but their non-licensed and still somewhat struggling is surprising. They had to make money somehow too.

His interview a year or two ago made sense of the old but new approach and I like that idea a lot. Whether old games or old game design not all new design is great. Not everyone can use those elements but have the themes/story/setting and more to be convincing to people either. Even if Babylon's Fall's artstyle is different it isn't convincing to people the way other Platinum games are. So part of Platinum that in way is still there but the game design isn't as much.

I look at old games and go wow that's still fresh but they got left behind. I see Indies and go yep it's based on their favourite/many customers who will buy it because it's based on said popular game/inspired by. So when I see the unique Indies not the inspired/nostalgic ones (they have to start somewhere and also what they know best too/see a trend forming as well likely) I go hmm they are very interesting.

Many veterans have gone their own direction from Yooka Laylee, Judas, Azure Gunvolt, Bloodstained, ReCore and more.

So to see that happen and also research many old games with great ideas and many platformers being just more Mario/Banjo continuations while the movesets/worlds sure I have researched many PS1/N64 platformers without Mario/Banjo focus and they are way more exciting. But people want more Banjo/Mario, how many Pokemon fans actually care about the Indies pushing the bar of design, nope it isn't that brand so why bother. I'm happy with Chameleon Twist, Glover, Space Station Silicon Valley. I mean if Space Station Silicon Valley's ideas were put into Biomutant for classes and animal abilities it would be way more exciting then the only interesting thing in it was the gas immunity part of it that stood out to me. The animal aspect isn't anything special in that game. For the world sure, but the sprinting animation, still using vehicles. Why can't I dig, swim, fly with traits from a mole/dog, a dolphin, a flying fox/bat, you can customise your own animal but for looks/gas immunity? Seriously. Using abilities to make quests/exploration more interesting to go to? Why are movesets so bland in games sometimes I wonder why?

This is why I like platformers so much is level design is important to making it interesting. And why while RPGs aren't bad they don't appeal to me unless the combat is compelling and as I only really like tactics games because of the strategy element that sound make sense why I find if the level design aka Disgaea level design is based around the grid, some vertical some not and geo panels aka tiles with nerfs and buffs on them why I would find it more compelling right it's like what board games do best is have interesting spaces on them. Characters being interesting to play as for classes. It's why Disgaea and Valkyria Chronicles are my key games in that genre.

They weren't bad games of the past for old consoles/genres/ideas just the marketing, what casuals seek, what appeals more. All from platformers, racing games and other genres. I have played some racing games with amazing ideas, what sold more, the ones with particular cars, particular marketing, who cared for game design ideas, casuals couldn't care less. Racing games aren't annual, and all about the cars it's like any game what you do with the levels, the moveset, the character weight, the theming.

It's why I appreciate Nintendo so much it's about game design. Console features or otherwise. While even if characters with not as much speech they still convey a lot in their actions, worlds, lore and just appealing designs. They are easily likeable.

When I played Valkyrie Elysium I had fun with it, sure eh skill trees but the weakness of elements wasn't amazing but was still fun. I didn't mind the Norso mythology but I mean I prefer it to God of War.

Bayonetta 2 is the most flexible action game I've ever played, it is my favourite of action game moveset of it's type for combat.

Gran Turismo 3 and Project Gotham Racing 2 & 3 have fun driving models.

So others whether for action games or just in general. and them going full on new at Platinum yeah nah.

Bayonetta 3 already without him probably only certain aspects as an overseer or so I forget, yeah the series is going ok directions but Babylon's Fall while had fine elements.

@fenlix yeah but it didn't come out and he clearly isn't directing it anymore so I won't count that towards anything. If we really want to speculate I bet the other executives at Platinum probably wanted the game to be more focused and...shippable since there has been several reports that the project was getting out of hand (Scalebound without Microsoft footing the bill). The announcement/teaser trailer was 3 years ago and no updates since then that I know about. Kamiya has said its scale was others fault and not his vision, but also he isn't the type of guy to take credit for failure.