Renowned game developer Hideki Kamiya has recently disclosed the reasons behind his departure from Platinum Games earlier this year.
Kamiya reveals the secret of his departure
At its core, his departure represents a classic tale. Kamiya’s personal convictions no longer aligned with the direction Platinum Games was taking.
During an episode of his YouTube show, Kamiya delved into the circumstances that led to his sudden announcement of departure in September.
“I felt that the direction the company was heading in was different from my beliefs as a developer,” explained Kamiya. “Without that element of trust, I couldn’t continue working there, and so I left, so that I could continue working in what I consider to be the right way. I don’t think of games as products, but rather as works of art. I want to put my artistry into games and deliver games that could only be made by Hideki Kamiya, so that players can enjoy Hideki Kamiya games exactly as they are.”
And with that, Kamiya had made his decision.
“I decided to leave the company and forge my own path, to continue making games that reflect the developers who made them.”
Kamiya also emphasized that the decision was mutual and followed extensive discussions with Platinum president Atsushi Inaba.
On his YouTube channel, which he has been actively using since leaving Platinum Games, Kamiya has been sharing his thoughts on various topics. Recently, he addressed a question he frequently gets asked: whether he would collaborate with other influential figures in Japanese gaming such as Kojima, Taro, or Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki.
His response was in line with his unwavering beliefs in game development, as he stated, “Look, it would be a disaster! It doesn’t work like in Dragon Ball, where Goku fuses with other characters. Two people with completely different personalities and ideas would clash. There’s no way you’d get a decent game of that. Why is that hard for people to understand? There is a Japanese saying, maybe a proverb? ‘Too many captains will steer the ship up a mountain’… so there should only be ONE CAPTAIN!”
Hopefully, it won’t be long before we witness Kamiya’s new vision post-Platinum Games.