Platinum Games has become somewhat of a household name these days, with the critical and commercial success of its 2017 smash hit, Nier: Automata. However, the action-game developers have always had a colorful history of games that were acclaimed critically but remained rather niche. Titles like Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, and Star Fox Zero were often overlooked due to their exclusivity on the poorly received Wii U.
Bayonetta 2, especially, was a standout for a couple reasons. Its exclusive partnership with Nintendo was a shocking revelation when it was first revealed, as the first entry was multi-platform during that generation. To add insult to non-Wii U owners’ injuries, the game went on to become the highest rated action game of all times when it was released. Sadly, the director of this beloved title, Yusuke Hashimoto, announced on Twitter yesterday that he has left Platinum Games after 13 memorable years.
Hashimoto’s long tenure at Platinum Games had him working on all of the Nintendo-licensed titles, but it’s unclear if he ever finished his director’s duties on the upcoming Bayonetta 3, or if he had any input on that game at all, largely due to the still unknown details of the title. If the latter is true, it would be a huge loss to the franchise, and may even see the third entry fall short of its predecessor’s lofty accolades. In his Twitter post, Hashimoto revealed that his last day was actually January 31, 2019, but he didn’t make the announcement until now. In traditional fashion, he went on to thank the people that he’s worked with, citing priceless memories during his time working at the company; he also expressed gratitude towards his supporters and fans.
It’s unclear what Hashimoto will work on next, or even where he will end up going, but if his résumé of games is any indication, it’s sure to be of high quality and standards worthy of the Platinum name.