PlatinumGames CEO Atsushi Inaba has confirmed that the studio remains committed to continuing its Bayonetta franchise, despite a wave of departures that has reshaped the Osaka-based developer. Speaking for the first time about the studio’s ambitions since key staff members left, Inaba told Japanese outlet Famitsu that “we have a strong desire to further develop the character of Bayonetta and expand her world,” urging fans to look forward to seeing what form those plans take in the future.
The comments arrive during a promotional partnership between Inaba and Shift-Up CEO Hyung-tae Kim, designed to highlight the Bayonetta crossover event now available for Stellar Blade on Nintendo Switch 2. While Inaba declined to commit to specific details about upcoming projects, his remarks signal that PlatinumGames intends to keep building out its iconic witch franchise even as it navigates a period of significant internal change.
A Studio Transformed by Departures
The Bayonetta series—featuring the gun-shoe-wielding, weaponized-hair-slinging witch who has become one of character action gaming’s most recognizable protagonists—is far from abandoned. Yet the road ahead is complicated by an exodus that has stripped PlatinumGames of much of its founding talent. Original director Hideki Kamiya departed to establish Clovers Studio with ambitions to make Okami 2, while other notable figures have followed similar paths.
The list of departures reads like a who’s who of the industry: Resident Evil character designer Masaki Yamanaka, Metal Gear Rising director Kenji Saito, Astral Chain director Takahisa Taura, and Bayonetta 2 director Yusuke Hashimoto, who left to join Capcom where he recently helped bring combat polish to Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Even without these losses, Inaba acknowledged that reviving the series would not be as simple as simply producing another entry.
A Complex Ownership Situation
The Bayonetta franchise carries a particularly tangled corporate history that any future installment must navigate. The series is co-owned by Sega and Nintendo, who published the first and second games respectively. Bayonetta 2 arrived as a Wii U exclusive before being ported to the Switch, with Bayonetta 3 launching on the platform in 2022. This shared ownership means that any new project would require coordination between two of gaming’s most powerful publishers.
“I can’t really answer that right now. We have a strong desire to further develop the character of Bayonetta and expand her world. Please look forward to seeing what form that takes in the future.”
Atsushi Inaba, CEO of PlatinumGames
A Busy Slate for PlatinumGames
Beyond its ambitions for Bayonetta, PlatinumGames has a substantial portfolio of projects already underway. The studio’s most recent release was Ninja Gaiden 4, a collaboration with Team Ninja that launched on October 21, 2025 across PS5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.
Next up is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, an action-adventure game based on the popular comic series. Announced at Summer Game Fest in June 2026 following the cancellation of Black Forest Games’ original version, the project represents a partnership with Paramount and marks another high-profile entry into PlatinumGames’ growing lineup.
Looking Ahead
However, that upcoming title faces uncertainty amid industry consolidation. Warner Bros and Paramount have merged into a single entity called Skydance in a deal worth $110 billion, expected to close on October 6, 2026. Once finalized, the conglomerate will control an enormous portfolio spanning Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Batman, The Sopranos, Star Trek, and much more.
Historically, large mergers produce casualties, and Paramount’s live-action R-rated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation was already on hold before the companies joined forces. It remains unclear whether PlatinumGames’ TMG project will survive the storm. As for Bayonetta specifically, Inaba has offered reassurance about the studio’s intentions without revealing concrete plans—a promise that fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely as PlatinumGames charts its path forward.
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