During a recent group interview with Shift Up, the South Korean studio behind Stellar Blade, PlatinumGames chief executive Atsushi Inaba left fans reading between the lines when pressed about the future of the Bayonetta franchise. Speaking to Famitsu and later translated for English audiences by NintendoEverything, Inaba declined to rule out another entry in Hideki Kamiya’s acclaimed action series, hinting instead that he wants to “expand” the witch character further before revealing exactly what shape her next appearance might take.
The exchange unfolded as part of a broader conversation about the cross-promotional collaboration between Stellar Blade and Bayonetta. The upcoming Switch 2 port of Stellar Blade, scheduled for release next month, will ship with four new costumes inspired by characters from the Bayonetta series. This marks one of several recent moments where the witch has crossed paths with other franchises, including her inclusion in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds alongside Minecraft Steve and Spongebob.
A Quiet Period for the Witch
The timing of Inaba’s comments carries weight given how little Bayonetta has appeared in the public eye. 2022’s Bayonetta 3 arrived to a generally positive reception, though it also drew criticism over its depiction of the witch herself. Since then, activity on the Umbral front has been remarkably subdued.
The silence felt especially pronounced after Kamiya departed PlatinumGames in 2023. With the series’ visionary creator gone, many observers assumed the franchise would lie dormant for the foreseeable future. The situation grew even more uncertain through 2025, when PlatinumGames lost a further batch of high-profile talent: Bayonetta 3 director Yusuke Miyata, Astral Chain director Takahisa Taura, and Metal Gear Rising director Kenji Saito.
Atsushi Inaba, CEO of PlatinumGames
The Interview That Sparked Speculation
In the Famitsu interview, Kim Hyung-tae, CEO of Shift Up, opened with a lighthearted observation about the longevity of her co-star’s franchise. She joked that although Bayonetta was “approaching 17,” she “[…] really hasn’t lost any of its freshness.” The remark prompted Famitsu to turn to Inaba and ask whether Platinum had any ideas for the series’ next move.
Inaba offered a carefully measured response, before ultimately deflecting when pressed further. When an interviewer probed him directly about fans waiting for a new game, he simply laughed and replied: “I’m sorry, but ‘no comment.'” The answer was far from conclusive, yet it left enough room for optimism that community reaction leaned toward the possibility of future Bayonetta content.
The exchange suggests that despite the departures of Kamiya and other key staff, PlatinumGames may still harbor ambitions for the franchise. Even if a brand-new game does not materialize soon, some fans have speculated whether the renewed interest could eventually lead to more widely available ports of Bayonetta 2 and Bayonetta 3, freeing them from their Bayonetta-era Nintendo exclusivity.
A Conversation Shifts Toward Costumes
The crossover has also had the effect of redirecting public attention toward Stellar Blade itself. By generating buzz around Eve’s new outfits, the collaboration appears to have drawn focus away from earlier reports that its sequel, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, was being developed with generative AI at the forefront.
Whether or not Inaba’s coy remarks foreshadow a genuine Bayonetta revival remains unclear. What is certain is that the witch has once again captured the industry’s imagination, and fans will be watching closely to see whether PlatinumGames eventually reveals what shape her next chapter takes.
1 comment