The newly appointed CEO Atsushi Inaba has talked up the company’s past, present, and their future – noting the PlatinumGames CEO wants to make larger games, while suggesting they’ll pursue live service games.
The news that the PlatinumGames CEO want to make larger games alongside pursuing live service games comes in a new interview (via Famitsu), where company boss Atsushi Inaba talks up their pedigree and what their new focuses should be.
“In the past, around the time of the Sato regime (the former president), even if we wanted to create our own IP, it was difficult to do so, and even if we could, it would be on a very small scale… Even if we could, it would only be on a very small scale… …we could only make indie-class products,” Inaba said.
He added, “In the future, I would like to get rid of all of that and make a big game out of it, and succeed in at least one thing. I want to lead Platinum Games in a direction that is pure and unadulterated, and never look back. I think that’s my role now.”
Inaba also nearly let out some new details for Hideki Kamiya’s long-awaited Project G.G., the long-awaited final game in his superhero trilogy that is preceded by Viewtiful Joe and The Wonderful 101.
“Oops, I almost blurted out something important about where we are going (laughs),” Inaba said. “Project G.G. is still in the stage of testing various things, so I can’t tell you much about it.”
Project G.G. is PlatinumGames first fully-owned and developed original IP, as the studio has long been making licensed games or externally-funded projects for big publishers. Inaba talked up how he wants to seemingly pursue live service games, to lengthen how long their games stay relevant to modern gamers.
“But when it comes to future game production, we want to focus on making games that are different from the past, that can be enjoyed and loved for a longer period of time. I would like to focus on creating games that can be enjoyed and loved for a longer period of time.”
Before you grab your pitchforks and start rallying on your preferred online platform, Inaba was quick to note they will continue supporting small and/or single-run games, i.e. traditionally developed and supported games.
“Of course, we would like to cherish and create small but brilliantly conceived games such as Sol Cresta, and games in which you can enjoy the process of clearing the game by going through one-off, well-designed stages, such as Bayonetta,” he said.
Inaba clarified things a bit in regards to market shifts, adding “However, the works that we are trying to shape in the future will be different from all of them in terms of their presence. Considering the changes in the market over the next five years or so, I think it is absolutely necessary.”
Realizing he’s probably trying to talk about more than he’s allowed to right now, the PlatinumGames boss then teased readers a bit. “I apologize for being so vague, but I think this is all I can tell you right now,” he said.
Lastly, when talking up the future of PlatinumGames and how their game releases perform, Inaba suggested if they can no longer produce new games, they might as well close their doors.
“I think it will become more solid. Sato laid the foundation, the cornerstone of Platinum Games, so I’d like to go back to the identity of Platinum Games myself,” Inaba said. “To begin with, if we can no longer create new games, there is no reason for Platinum Games to exist, and if that happens, I think it would be better to dissolve the company, no matter how profitable it is. I’d like to go back to our raison d’etre and create new games on a larger scale in a more pure manner.”
The company’s next release is the aforementioned Sol Cresta, which is set to launch for Windows PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 on February 22. Their next title is the live service-focused online RPG Babylon’s Fall in March 2022, and after that their next big title is Bayonetta 3, which is finally set to release in 2022.
