As 2023 comes to a close, many major publishers and developers in the industry are looking back on what has undoubtedly been one of the most, shall we say, interesting periods in gaming history.
One such publisher is PlatinumGames, which has posted a '2023 recap' video on X (formerly Twitter) to commemorate major releases such as Bayonetta Origins and The Wonderful 101: After School Hero, key anniversaries from its history, and other noteworthy events.
Toward the end of the video, however, PlatinumGames included the departure of Hideki Kamiya from the company as one of the year's highlights.
Now, there's nothing necessarily wrong with this, and it could well be that PlatinumGames holds Kamiya in such high regard that it felt compelled to include his resignation as an important 2023 event. Nevertheless, it's a bit odd, no? Especially with the whimsical, uplifting accompanying music.
Regardless, it'll be interesting to see what kind of games the company will create now that Kamiya is no longer a part of it. In a recent YouTube video, the auteur clarified why he left, stating, "I decided to leave because I felt that the direction the company was heading in was different from my beliefs as a developer".
What do you make of PlatinumGames' recent 2023 highlights video? Do you think the company can thrive without Kamiya? Let us know with a comment.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 12
Personally I liked it, FAR better than the usual ignoring of luminaries long service. Seems they can’t win
They could have just used a promotional picture of him. Including footage of him walking away from the building with his belongings does seem like a weird inclusion.
That's fairly unusual but you can't blame their honesty and transparence
Kamiya was one of the founders of platinum, it makes sense to include his departure to the recap. Him walking out with a box was something he did himself as a joke, so I think it matches the tone of the music in that regard.
Either they were acknowledging a friend leaving or they saw his departure as a win.
Kamiya is the reason I played platinum games from day one. Not sure if I will buy any new platinum game in the future. The quality of their games, except Bayonetta 3, has been rapidly declining anyway...
Like @themightyant said, it is better than companies ignoring devs/creators. Even if it was done as a slight towards Kamiya (I doubt it, and it wasn't even mean), Kamiya still got acknowledged in the end which is important.
Also, Kamiya isn't dead or dying. Having a fun backtrack with him comically carrying his belongings out of the building was light-hearted and jovial and fit with the rest of the video.
NintendoLife is looking too into this....
EDIT: I can't remember exactly since it was so long ago, but a former founding member of PlatinumGames, Shigenori Nishigawa, left PlatniumGames and he didn't even get a mention on PG's website, let alone be in a video (if I recall). I know he isn't as important as Kamiya, but at the time he was a pillar at PG. I found out about it months later and was shocked. Same thing with JP Kellams, I don't think PG ever acknowledged him leaving either (again, he isn't a "Kamiya" level figure, but he was the "face" of the company during their burgeoning years for us in the west).
Haha, such a classic shot of him carrying a box with his desk equipment!
Fan of Bayonetta but that game play is really moving. I even had trouble keeping up. lol But need to get back to it but like to play on the Switch 2 if I could to power it more.
It's such a shame the physical of Sol Cresta was blocked for import. I would have bought it several points through the year.
I don’t find anything odd about it myself. Regardless of how one feels towards him, Kamiya was one of PlatinumGames’ pillars after all.
As for the video itself, its pretty nice.
Here’s hoping PG announces Astral Chain sequel sometime next year.
I don’t know how good it’ll be without Kamiya, but I really would love an Astral Chain 2 announcement this year. I’ve been replaying the original and I think a sequel would be absolutely wonderful
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