View source for Hideki Kamiya

{{Short description|Japanese video game designer and director}}
{{Eastern name order|Kamiya Hideki}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Hideki Kamiya
| image              = Hideki Kamiya in 2014.jpg
| caption            = Kamiya in 2014
| native_name        = 神谷 英樹
| native_name_lang   = ja
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1970|12|19}}
| birth_place        = [[Matsumoto, Nagano]], Japan
| employer           = [[Capcom]] (1994–2006)<br/>[[Clover Studio]] (2004–2006)<br/>[[PlatinumGames]] (2006–2023)<br/>Clovers (2023–present)
| alma mater         = [[Kyorin University]]
| occupation         = [[Video game designer]], director
| years_active       = 1994–present
| notable_works      = {{ubl|''[[Resident Evil 2]]''|''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]''|''[[Viewtiful Joe (video game)|Viewtiful Joe]]''|''[[Ōkami]]''|''[[Bayonetta (video game)|Bayonetta]]''|''[[The Wonderful 101]]''}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Hideki Kamiya'''|神谷 英樹|Kamiya Hideki|born December 19, 1970}} is a Japanese [[video game designer]] and [[Video game producer|director]]. He began his career in 1994 with [[Capcom]], where he directed ''[[Resident Evil 2]]'' (1998), ''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]'' (2001), ''[[Viewtiful Joe (video game)|Viewtiful Joe]]'' (2003), and ''[[Ōkami]]'' (2006). From 2004 to 2006, he worked for the Capcom subsidiary [[Clover Studio]].

After leaving Capcom, Kamiya and other former staff members founded [[PlatinumGames]] in 2006. Kamiya also served as vice president from 2017 to 2023. His projects with PlatinumGames include ''[[Bayonetta (video game)|Bayonetta]]'' (2009) and ''[[The Wonderful 101]]'' (2013). 

In December 2024, it was announced he had formed an independent studio named Clovers Inc., with their first project being a sequel to ''Ōkami'' published by Capcom.

He was named one of the top 100 game creators of all-time by ''[[IGN]]'' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/56.html |title=IGN - 56. Hideki Kamiya |website=IGN |language=en |access-date=2023-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420073611/http://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/56.html |archive-date=2014-04-20}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Kamiya was born in 1970 in Matsumoto in [[Nagano Prefecture]]. At a young age, he was already a fan of video games thanks to a neighbor who often invited him to play with his [[Epoch Cassette Vision]] console. Gaming appealed to Kamiya mainly due to the sounds it produced. During his early years of junior school he got his own first console, [[Nintendo]]'s [[Famicom]]. The first game he bought was ''[[Nuts & Milk]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iwata Asks |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wiiu/thewonderful101/0/0/ |access-date=August 12, 2013 |website= |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |page=1}}</ref> In high school, Kamiya bought a [[NEC PC-8801]] to study programming, but ended up playing video games every day.<ref name="ptwo"/>

The first software he purchased for his PC-8801 MA computer was ''[[Hydlide 3: The Space Memories]]''. He also loved [[monster movies]] such as ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' and ''[[Ultraman]]'' as a child.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leone |first1=Matt |title=Hideki Kamiya: Making Scalebound with a Western publisher |url=https://www.polygon.com/a/life-in-japan/Hideki-Kamiya-Scalebound |access-date=August 2, 2021 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122151305/http://www.polygon.com/a/life-in-japan/Hideki-Kamiya-Scalebound |archive-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref>

As a game designer, Kamiya stated he has been most inspired by the games ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'' and ''[[Gradius]]''. His favorite action game is the original ''[[Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''.<ref name="1up">{{cite web | author=Mielke, James | date=August 18, 2006 | title=The Kamiya Touch: An Interview with Clover's Hideki Kamiya | url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3152880 | publisher=[[1UP.com]] | access-date=April 6, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012002144/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3152880 | archive-date=October 12, 2012 }}</ref> Other favorite games include ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[Cybernator]]'', ''[[Punch-Out!!|Punch-Out]]'', ''[[Wonder Boy in Monster Land]]'', ''[[Snatcher (video game)|Snatcher]]'', ''[[Sorcerian]]'', and ''[[Star Cruiser (1988 video game)|Star Cruiser]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kamiya |first1=Hideki |title=Hideki Kamiya's Blog - A Self-Introduction |url=https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=9380283311 |website=[[Facebook]] |date=January 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118073631/http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=9380283311 |archive-date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>

== Career ==
When reading an interview from the ''Family Computer Magazine'' that featured game creators [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] and [[Masanobu Endo]], Kamiya decided he would become a video game developer.<ref name="ptwo">{{cite web |title=Iwata Asks |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wiiu/thewonderful101/0/1/ |access-date=August 12, 2013 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |page=2}}</ref> After graduating from college, Kamiya applied for jobs at various game developers. He was turned down by [[Sega]] and had an application accepted by [[Namco]]. However, Namco wanted him to be an artist rather than a game designer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kato |first=Matthew |title=Action Hero: An Interview With PlatinumGames' Hideki Kamiya |magazine=[[Game Informer]]|publisher=GameStop|date=December 2009 |page=11}}</ref>

===''Resident Evil''===
Kamiya joined Capcom as a designer in 1994. His early works included planner of the original ''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]''. The development of ''[[Resident Evil 2]]'' was carried out by a 40- to 50-person group that would later be part of [[Capcom Production Studio 4]].<ref name="famitsu">{{cite journal |title=Resident Evil 2: New In-Depth Interview! |date=January 1998 |journal=[[Tips & Tricks]] |issue=37 |publisher=[[LFP, Inc.]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/studio4/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206023353/http://www.capcom.co.jp/studio4/index.html |title=Production Studio 4 |language=ja |archive-date=February 6, 2005 |publisher=[[Capcom Co., Ltd]]}}</ref> The game was directed by Kamiya, who led the team, which was composed of newer Capcom employees and over half of the staff from the original ''Resident Evil''.<ref name="famitsu" /><ref name="gamefan">{{cite book |title=Resident Evil 2 Survival Guide |author=Hodgson, David |year=1997 |publisher=Gamefan Books |pages=106A–108A}}</ref><ref name="research">{{cite book |title=Research on Biohazard 2 final edition |date=September 1, 1998 |publisher=Micro Design Publishing Inc |language=ja |isbn=978-4-944000-77-7}}{{page number needed|date=June 2025}}</ref> In the initial stages of development, producer [[Shinji Mikami]] often had creative disagreements with Kamiya, and tried to influence the team with his own direction. He eventually stepped back to an overseeing role as producer, and only demanded to be shown the current build once a month.<ref name="research" />

To fulfill Capcom's sales plan of two million copies, director Kamiya tried to attract new customers with a more ostentatious and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood-like]] story presentation.<ref>{{cite book |title=Devil May Cry Graphic Edition |date=December 2001 |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |language=ja |isbn=978-4-04-707071-4}}{{page number needed|date=June 2025}}</ref> As [[Yoshiki Okamoto]] did not want to simply enforce the new direction, he had regular series writer [[Noboru Sugimura]] discuss the plot revisions with Mikami and the development staff.<ref name="research" /> The planners redesigned the game from the ground up to fit the changes, and the programmers and other remaining members of the team were sent to work on ''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)#Director's Cut|Resident Evil Director's Cut]]'', which was shipped with a playable preview disc of the new ''Resident Evil 2'' version in order to promote the sequel and to apologize to the players for its belated release.<ref name="famitsu" /><ref name="iobh">{{cite book |title=Bio Hazard Perfect Guide: Inside of Bio-Hazard |date=March 1997 |publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]] |language=ja |isbn=4-89366-659-2}}{{page number needed|date=June 2025}}</ref>

===''Devil May Cry''===
Kamiya was later the director of ''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]'', which started out as the earliest incarnation of ''[[Resident Evil 4]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Kevin Gifford, Mark MacDonald |date=April 2005 |title=Afterthoughts: Resident Evil 4 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis|Ziff Davis Media Inc.]] |issue=190 |pages=51–52}}</ref> Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the game was [[Game design#Game designer|directed]] by Hideki Kamiya after producer [[Shinji Mikami]] requested that he create a new entry in the ''Resident Evil'' series.<ref name="dmcbegin">{{cite web |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |title=新しいバイオ |trans-title=New bio |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol002.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306002045/http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol002.html |archive-date=March 6, 2010 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=[[Capcom]]}}</ref> Around the turn of the millennium,<ref name="dmcscenario">{{cite web|url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol010.html |title=シナリオの話 |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=[[Capcom]] |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306002121/http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol010.html |archive-date=March 6, 2010 }}</ref> Sugimura<ref name="dmcscenario2">{{cite web |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20010411/capcom.htm |title=カプコン、深作欣二監督を招き「クロックタワー3」を制作 |author=Minoru Funatsu |date=April 11, 2001 |work=Game Watch |publisher=Impress Watch Corporation |access-date=July 8, 2010}}</ref> created a scenario for the title, based on Kamiya's idea to make a very cool and stylized [[action game]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Devil May Cry Graphic Edition |date=December 2001 |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |isbn=978-4-04-707071-4}}</ref> The story was based on unraveling the mystery surrounding the body of protagonist Tony,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/24941810134 |title=Twitter |date=September 19, 2010 |author=Hideki Kamiya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027034349/https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/24941810134 |archive-date=October 27, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> an invincible man with skills and an intellect exceeding that of normal people, his superhuman abilities explained with biotechnology.<ref name="dmcscenario" /> As Kamiya felt the playable character did not look brave and heroic enough in battles from a fixed angle, he decided to drop the prerendered backgrounds from previous ''Resident Evil'' installments and instead opted for a [[Virtual camera system#Interactive|dynamic camera system]].<ref name="dmcbegin" /> This new direction required the team to make a trip to Europe where they spent eleven days in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Spain]] photographing things like [[Gothic art|Gothic]] statues, bricks, and stone pavements for use in [[Texture mapping|textures]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol009.html |title=背景 |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=[[Capcom]] |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306002116/http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol009.html |archive-date=March 6, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3152913 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202000/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3152913 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |title=Retro/Active: Hideki Kamiya -- The Okami Family Tree |author=James Mielke |work=[[1UP.com]] |publisher=[[UGO Networks|UGO Entertainment, Inc.]] |date=August 18, 2006 |access-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref> Though the developers tried to make the "coolness" theme fit into the world of ''Resident Evil'', Mikami felt it strayed too far from the series' survival horror roots and gradually convinced all of the staff members to make the game independent from it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/094/094860p1.html |title=E3 2001: Interview with Shinji Mikami |author=Douglass C. Perry |date=May 17, 2001 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[IGN]] Entertainment, Inc. |access-date=July 20, 2008}}</ref> Kamiya eventually rewrote the story to be set in a world full of demons and changed the hero's name to "Dante".<ref name="dmcscenario" /> The cast of characters remained largely identical to that in Sugimura's scenario,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/25191837038 |title=Twitter |date=September 22, 2010 |author=Hideki Kamiya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108022520/https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/25191837038 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although appearances of the hero's mother and father were written out of the story.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/24938262180 |title=Twitter |date=September 19, 2010 |author=Hideki Kamiya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108022504/https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/24938262180 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/25008421124 |title=Twitter |date=September 20, 2010 |author=Hideki Kamiya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108020808/https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/25008421124 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The game's new title was revealed as ''Devil May Cry'' in November 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/087/087835p1.html |title=New From Capcom: Devil May Cry |date=November 15, 2000 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[IGN]] Entertainment, Inc. |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref>

The game was developed by Team Little Devils, a group of staff members within [[Capcom#Development studios|Capcom Production Studio 4]].<ref>{{cite video game |title=Devil May Cry |developer=[[Capcom]] |publisher=[[Capcom#Branches and subsidiaries|Capcom Entertainment, Inc.]] |date=October 17, 2011 |scene=staff credits}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/studio4/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206023353/http://www.capcom.co.jp/studio4/index.html |title=Production Studio 4 |language=ja |archive-date=February 6, 2005 |publisher=[[Capcom]]}}</ref> Some of the major gameplay elements were partially inspired by a bug found in ''[[Onimusha: Warlords]]''. During a test-play, Kamiya discovered that enemies could be kept in the air by slashing them repeatedly, which led to the inclusion of juggles by gunfire and sword strikes in ''Devil May Cry''.<ref name=egm>''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', December 2001 issue, pg. 56</ref> According to the director, ''Devil May Cry'' was designed from the ground up around Dante's acrobatics and combat abilities.<ref name="Kamiya Touch">{{cite web|last=Mielke |first=James |date=August 18, 2006 |title=The Kamiya Touch |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3152880 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208193142/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3152880 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |access-date=July 20, 2008 |publisher=1UP.com }}</ref> The decision was made late in the development process to change the game to a more mission-based advancement, instead of the more open-ended structure of the ''Resident Evil'' games.<ref name="Preview1">{{cite web|last= Ike Sato|first= Yukiyoshi |date= May 24, 2001|title = Capcom changes Devil May Cry gameplay| url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/devilmaycry/news.html?sid=2765132|access-date = July 20, 2008 | publisher=GameSpot}}</ref> ''Devil May Cry'''s difficulty was intentional, according to Kamiya, who called it his "challenge to those who played light, casual games."<ref name=top200>{{cite web|access-date=July 20, 2008 |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3147448 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116132710/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3147448 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |title=Greatest 200 |publisher=1UP }}</ref>

Despite the success of the original ''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]'', the sequel was not created by Hideki Kamiya or Team Little Devils.<ref>{{cite video game |title=[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]] |developer=Team Little Devils |publisher=[[Capcom#Branches and subsidiaries|Capcom Entertainment, Inc.]] |date=October 17, 2001 |scene=staff credits}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_dmc2_ps2 |title=The Devil's in the detail |date=February 20, 2003 |author=Kristan Reed |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=Eurogamer Network Ltd. |access-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> The first notice Kamiya's team was given about any sort of sequel occurred during localization of ''Devil May Cry'' in [[North America]] and [[Europe]], a move which greatly surprised Kamiya. Instead the project was handed over to Capcom Dev Studio 2.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Devil May Cry 2 |developer=[[Capcom]] |publisher=[[Capcom#Branches and subsidiaries|Capcom Entertainment, Inc.]] |date=January 25, 2003 |scene=staff credits}}</ref> Since the game's release, Kamiya has expressed disappointment that he was not called on by his superiors at Capcom to direct ''[[Devil May Cry 2]]''.<ref name=Kamiya1>{{cite web|last=Mielke |first=James |title=The Kamiya Touch |date=August 18, 2006 |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152880 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116123348/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152880 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref>

Although Kamiya did not direct the third game, ''[[Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening]]'', he still advised writer [[Bingo Morihashi]] in the characterization of the title character as well as his design. He also gave Morihashi freedom in terms of the story's retcons regarding Vergil's history.<ref>{{cite book|title=Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts|publisher=Capcom, Udon Entertainment|year=2015|isbn=978-1927925485|pages=211}}</ref>

Kamiya stated on Twitter that he was interested in remaking the original ''Devil May Cry'' game, although he was not employed by Capcom at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/games/devil-may-cry/56010/devil-may-cry-creator-wants-to-remake-original-game|title = Devil May Cry Creator Wants to Remake Original Game| work=Den of Geek |date = March 15, 2018}}</ref>

===Clover Studio===
{{further|Clover Studio}}

Kamiya directed the original ''[[Viewtiful Joe (video game)|Viewtiful Joe]]''. The game was conceived as a "staff-focused project" aimed at increasing the skill of its creators, specifically director Kamiya.<ref name="postcard">{{cite web | author=Sheffield, Brandon | date=March 11, 2005 | title=Postcard from GDC 2005: Lessons from Viewtiful Joe: Making a Creatively and Financially Successful New Game | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/postcard-from-gdc-2005-lessons-from-viewtiful-joe-making-a-creatively-and-financially-successful-new-game | publisher=Gamasutra | access-date=February 17, 2009}}</ref> Kamiya provides the voice for Six Machine in the game.<ref name="staff">{{cite video game |title=Viewtiful Joe |developer=[[Capcom Production Studio 4|Production Studio 4]] |publisher=[[Capcom Entertainment, Inc.]] |date=October 7, 2003 |scene=Staff credits, 3:35:19 in, Voices}}</ref><!-- url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLMvXi_-j2E -->

In 2006, Kamiya worked as the director for ''[[Ōkami]]''. ''Ōkami'' resulted from the combined ideas of Clover Studio.<ref name="gamespy-inaba">{{cite web | url = http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/okami/690940p1.html | title = Running with the Wolves: Atsushi Inaba talks Ōkami | publisher = Gamespy | date = February 23, 2006 | access-date =August 9, 2007 | last = McGarvey | first = Sterling}}</ref> The game was originally built around "depict[ing] a lot of nature", but had no central concept or theme, according to Kamiya, who served as the game's director.<ref name="okami prototype">{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/news/platinum-games-kamiya-reflects-bayonetta | title = PlatinumGames' Kamiya Reflects on Bayonetta, Okami | first = Kevin | last = Grifford | date = November 4, 2009 | access-date = November 5, 2009 | publisher = [[1UP.com]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019205741/http://www.1up.com/news/platinum-games-kamiya-reflects-bayonetta | archive-date = October 19, 2012 }}</ref> Kamiya eventually created a minute-long demonstration movie showing a wolf running about a forest, with flowers blossoming in its wake, but still lacked any gameplay. Kamiya and other members of the team introduced ideas around the nature aspect and eventually led to the game's initial prototype, which Kamiya admitted was "incredibly boring to play".<ref name="okami prototype"/> Eventually, they settled onto the gameplay found in the final product, With the core feature of allowing the player to pause the gameplay at any time to draw on the landscape to affect the world around them.<ref name="okami prototype"/>

The gameplay style is a mix of action, platform, and puzzle gaming genres, and has been noted by many reviewers to have numerous similarities in overall gameplay style to [[The Legend of Zelda|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1542741/20070131/index.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001130502/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1542741/20070131/index.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 1, 2007 | title = GameFile: 'Ōkami' Goes Green; Official Wii Word; 'Idol' Launch And More | publisher = MTV | date = October 10, 2006 | last = Totilo | first = Stephen | access-date =August 10, 2007 }}</ref> an inspiration that director Hideki Kamiya, a ''Zelda'' fan, has admitted has influenced his general game design.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/features/the-kamiya-touch | title = The Kamiya Touch: An Interview with Clover's Hideki Kamiya | publisher = 1up | last = Mielke | first = James | date = August 18, 2006 | access-date =August 10, 2007}}</ref>

Clover Studio was closed by Capcom in late 2006.<ref name="platinum"/>

===PlatinumGames===
{{further|PlatinumGames}}
PlatinumGames was founded under the name Seeds, Inc. on August 1, 2006, by [[Shinji Mikami]], [[Atsushi Inaba]] and Hideki Kamiya.<ref name="platinum">{{cite web|author=Sinclair, Brendan |date=February 14, 2007 |title=Clover vets reunite, form Seeds |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6165955.html |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=December 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524230613/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6165955.html |archive-date=May 24, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Clover Reborn">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/15/clover-reborn|title=Clover Reborn|last=Gantayat|first=Anoop|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=February 15, 2007|access-date=February 16, 2007}}</ref>

In May 2008, the company, now renamed to PlatinumGames, announced a four-game deal with publisher [[Sega]].<ref name="ref005">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18673|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517103726/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18673|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2008|title=PlatinumGames Partner For Four-Title Deal}}</ref> The games involved in the development and publishing deal included ''[[Bayonetta (video game)|Bayonetta]]'', a "stylish action game" for the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] directed by Kamiya. The game was considered as the successor of ''Devil May Cry'' with Kamiya having used its latest sequel ''[[Devil May Cry 4]]'' as part of his research.<ref name="gamespot-qanda">{{Cite web|last=Ramsay |first=Randolph |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6207621.html |title=Q&A: Hideki Kamiya on Bayonetta |publisher=GameSpot |date=April 8, 2009 |access-date=October 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228001200/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6207621.html |archive-date=December 28, 2009 }}</ref> First announced at E3 2012, Kamiya directed ''[[The Wonderful 101]]'' for the [[Wii U]], which was released in September 2013. He also wrote the story to ''[[Bayonetta 2]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://platinumgames.com/2012/09/14/bayonetta-2-joins-the-wonderful-101-on-wii-u/ |title=Bayonetta 2 joins The Wonderful 101 on Wii U |publisher=PlatinumGames.com |date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915091219/http://platinumgames.com/2012/09/14/bayonetta-2-joins-the-wonderful-101-on-wii-u/ |archive-date=September 15, 2012 }}</ref> released on the Wii U in October 2014.

Kamiya has stated he is interested in making a new ''[[Star Fox (series)|Star Fox]]'' game, and due to a lot of fans asking him on [[Twitter]] repeatedly, he was encouraged to submit ideas to Nintendo without success. Eventually, PlatinumGames did end up working with Nintendo on the next installment of the ''Star Fox'' series, entitled ''[[Star Fox Zero]]'', and its companion game ''[[Star Fox Guard]]'', both of which were released in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://andriasang.com/comjmb/hideki_kamiya_starfox/ |title=Bayonetta Creator Wants to be Forced to Make Star Fox at Gun Point -- Andriasang.com |website=andriasang.com |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225010312/http://andriasang.com/comjmb/hideki_kamiya_starfox/ |archive-date=December 25, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Kamiya was working on ''[[Scalebound]]'', a new game for [[Microsoft Studios]] until its cancellation in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/16/platinum-games-has-never-made-a-game-like-scalebound|title=PlatinumGames Has Never Made A Game Like Scalebound|first=Mitch|last=Dyer|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=September 16, 2014|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Goldfarb">{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2017/01/09/microsoft-confirms-scalebound-is-cancelled | title=Microsoft Confirms Scalebound is Cancelled | work=[[IGN]] | first=Andrew | last=Goldfarb | date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2022, Hellena Taylor, the voice actress for the titular [[Bayonetta (character)|Bayonetta]] in the first two ''Bayonetta'' titles, revealed that she decided not to voice Bayonetta in ''[[Bayonetta 3]]'', alleging that PlatinumGames offered her $4,000 for the role, an amount she found "insulting" and instead asked fans to boycott the video game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=George |date=October 15, 2022 |title=Hellena Taylor Is Asking Fans To Boycott Bayonetta 3 |work=TheGamer |url=https://www.thegamer.com/hellena-taylor-bayonetta-3-4000-offer-not-return-charity/ |access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref> Days later, Bloomberg and VGC verified sources that allege that Taylor was initially offered a larger sum for the main role, and that the $4000 was a final offer from Kamiya for a cameo role near the end of development.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-18/bayonetta-3-voice-actor-s-pay-dispute-overshadows-nintendo-game| title=A Tense Pay Dispute Overshadows Nintendo's Upcoming Bayonetta 3 | newspaper=Bloomberg.com | date=October 18, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sources-dispute-bayonetta-voice-actors-claims-over-pay-offer/| title=Sources dispute Bayonetta voice actor's claims over pay offer | date=October 18, 2022 }}</ref> Kamiya responded to Taylor's claims with a tweet reading "Sad and deplorable about the attitude of untruth. That's what all I can tell now." before temporarily deactivating his Twitter account.<ref name="Young 2022">{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Rorie |date=October 15, 2022 |title=Bayonetta 3 Executive Director Hideki Kamiya Responds to Voice Actor's Call For Boycott |url=https://gamerant.com/bayonetta-3-boycott-hideki-kamiya-platinumgames-response/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=[[Game Rant]] |ref=Young 2022}}</ref><ref name="Comrie 2022">{{cite web |last1=Comrie |first1=Sam |date=October 16, 2022 |title=Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya's Twitter account restricted amid voice actor controversy |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/bayonetta-director-hideki-kamiyas-twitter-account-restricted-amid-voice-actor-controversy-1959582/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Dexerto |ref=Comrie 2022}}</ref><ref name="Middler 2022">{{cite web |last1=Middler |first1=Jordan |date=October 16, 2022 |title=Hideki Kamiya's Twitter account restricted amidst Bayonetta 3 VO controversy |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/hideki-kamiyas-twitter-account-restricted-amidst-bayonetta-3-vo-controversy/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Video Games Chronicle |ref=Middler 2022}}</ref>

In a December 2024 interview, Kamiya said that around April 2023, he and Inaba began to have disagreements regarding the company, and by July 2023, Kamiya found it impossible to work with Inaba and made plans to leave PlatinumGames.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.siliconera.com/hideki-kamiya-explained-why-he-left-platinumgames/ | title=Hideki Kamiya Explained Why He Left PlatinumGames | date=December 16, 2024 }}</ref> Kamiya said in a later interview that he felt that the direction that PlatinumGames was going in terms of game development was away from celebrating a creator's individuality, a factor that was emphasized during his time with Capcom Team 4.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/hideki-kamiya-on-leaving-platinumgames-i-couldnt-allow-myself-to-kill-my-soul | title = Hideki Kamiya on leaving PlatinumGames: "I couldn't allow myself to kill my soul" | first = Ed | last = Nightengale | date = March 12, 2025 | accessdate = March 12, 2025 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref> His departure was announced publicly in September 2023, and formally left PlatinumGames on October 12, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/23888882/hideki-kamiya-bayonetta-leaves-platinum|title=Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya is leaving PlatinumGames|last=Welsh|first=Oli|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=September 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925131306/https://www.polygon.com/23888882/hideki-kamiya-bayonetta-leaves-platinum|archive-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/25/23888860/hideki-kamiya-leaving-platinumgames-bayonetta-viewtiful-joe-director-wonderful-101|title=Bayonetta director and Platinum Games co-founder Hideki Kamiya is leaving the studio|last=Porter|first=Jon|website=[[The Verge]]|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=September 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926005211/https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/25/23888860/hideki-kamiya-leaving-platinumgames-bayonetta-viewtiful-joe-director-wonderful-101|archive-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>

===Clovers===
During the few months between July and October 2023, Kamiya was approached by Kento Koyama, another PlatinumGames employee that had worked on ''Project G.G.'' Koyama suggested that Kamiya found his own studio to create the games he wanted. As others in the studio also sympathized with Kamiya's decision to leave, Kamiya recognized the value of Koyama's suggestion. Koyama left PlatinumGames in July to establish Clovers, acting as president and CEO, with Kamiya joining after his own departure. The name was a play on the former Clover Studio name. At this point, Kamiya was under a one-year non-compete agreement prevent him from working on any games, and kept his involvement with Clovers low-key. Several other PlatinumGames staff followed to join Clovers, with about 25 staff at its Tokyo and Osaka offices by December 2024.<ref name="vgc clovers" >{{cite web | url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/hideki-kamiya-on-returning-to-his-roots-with-clovers-and-okami-2/ | title=INTERVIEW: Hideki Kamiya on returning to his roots with Clovers and Okami 2 | date=December 16, 2024 }}</ref> Funding for Clovers was provided by Kamiya and Koyama without any outside investors, and Kamiya planned to only take investment funds to finance specific games rather than the studio to maintain its independence.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/12/okami-sequel-dev-wants-to-prioritise-creativity-keep-investors-at-arms-length | title=Okami Sequel Dev Wants to Prioritise Creativity, Keep Investors at Arm's Length | date=December 19, 2024 }}</ref>

Initial plans at Clovers was to develop new IP, but they soon realized the potential to develop a new ''Okami'' game, a desire that Kamiya had expressed during his time at PlatinumGames. They had discussions with Capcom to secure the opportunity, and once Kamiya's non-compete was completed, began starting to ramp up staffing at Clovers.<ref name="vgc clovers"/> The ''Okami'' sequel was publicly announced at [[The Game Awards 2024]] in December 2024, with pre-production starting near that time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Victoria |date=December 13, 2024 |title=Okami sequel in the works with Capcom and Hideki Kamiya's new studio, Clovers |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/okami-sequel-in-the-works-with-capcom-and-hideki-kamiyas-new-studio-clovers |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref>

==Online presence==
Those who have met Kamiya describe him as having a soft-spoken, friendly personality, but he has earned a contrasting reputation among some on [[Twitter]] for referring to non-Japanese-speaking fans using highly offensive language (eg, "brainless insects"), and blocking large numbers of them for tweeting him in any language other than Japanese, including users responding in English to tweets he made exclusively in English.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1146292981420437510|user=pg_kamiya|title=Really fed up with insects which never read my posts/header pic and just keep posting . THAT'S WHY I'm telling u not to post me in languages other than Japanese. If u break rules, that means u r brainless insect and will be blocked immediately. BE CAREFUL.|author=Hideki Kamiya|date=2019-07-03}}</ref> Kamiya's blocking has become an inside joke with fans, to the point that getting blocked or unblocked became a stretch reward for ''[[The Wonderful 101: Remastered]]'' [[Kickstarter]].<ref>{{cite web|author=PlatinumGames|title=The Wonderful 101: Remastered|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/platinumgames/the-wonderful-101-remastered/description|website=Kickstarter|access-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.videogameschronicle.com/blog/hideki-kamiya-twitter/ | title = Blog: I asked Hideki Kamiya all the questions he blocks you for on Twitter | first = Andy | last = Robinson | date = February 4, 2020 | access-date = February 4, 2020 | work = [[Video Games Chronicle]] }}</ref>

==Works==
===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Game
! Role
|-
|scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1996
| ''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]''
| System planner
|-
| ''[[Arthur to Astaroth no Nazomakaimura: Incredible Toons]]''
| Planner
|-
|scope="row"| 1998
| ''[[Resident Evil 2]]''
| Director
|-
| scope="row"|2001
| ''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]''
| Director, story
|-
|scope="row"|2002
| ''[[Resident Evil Zero]]''
| Original game design
|-
|scope="row"|2003
| ''[[Viewtiful Joe (video game)|Viewtiful Joe]]''
| Director
|-
|scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2004
| ''[[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Trials and Tribulations]]''
| Japanese voice of [[Godot (Ace Attorney)|Godot]]
|-
| ''[[Viewtiful Joe 2]]''
| rowspan="2" | Story
|-
| scope="row"|2005
| ''[[Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble!]]''
|-
|scope="row"| 2006
| ''[[Ōkami]]''
| rowspan="3" | Director, story
|-
| scope="row"|2009
| ''[[Bayonetta (video game)|Bayonetta]]''
|-
|scope="row"| 2013
| ''[[The Wonderful 101]]''
|-
| scope="row"|2014
| ''[[Bayonetta 2]]''
| Supervisor, story
|-
|scope="row"| 2019
| ''[[Astral Chain]]''
| rowspan="2" | Supervisor
|-
|scope="row"|2021
| ''[[World of Demons]]''
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2022
| ''[[Sol Cresta]]''<ref name="SolCresta_1">{{cite web |last1=Kamiya |first1=Hideki |title=Sol Cresta revealed: PlatinumGames' 36-years-in-the-making space shooter sequel |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2021/08/05/sol-cresta-revealed-platinumgames-36-years-in-the-making-space-shooter-sequel/ |website=PlayStation.Blog |access-date=August 5, 2021 |date=August 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name="SolCresta_2">{{cite web |title=Sol Cresta - Gameplay Trailer {{!}} PS4 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5BsIw9fV3E |website=YouTube |access-date=August 5, 2021 |language=en |date=August 5, 2021}}</ref>
| Creative director, story
|-
| ''[[Bayonetta 3]]''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kamiya |first1=Hideki |title=A Message from Bayonetta 3 Executive Director Hideki Kamiya |url=https://www.platinumgames.com/official-blog/article/11470 |website=PlatinumGames Official Blog |access-date=September 23, 2021 |language=ja |date=September 23, 2021}}</ref>
|Supervising director, scenario
|-
|scope="row"|2023
|''[[Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon]]''
|Supervising director, original story, chief scenario writer
|-
|scope="row"|TBA
|''[[Project G.G.]]''
|Original director
|-
|scope="row"|TBA
| Untitled ''[[Ōkami]]'' sequel<ref>{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=Okami is getting a sequel |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/12/24320133/okami-2-announce-game-awards |website=The Verge |language=en |date=13 December 2024}}</ref>
|Director
|}

===Canceled projects===
*''[[Scalebound]]'' – Director, story<ref name="Goldfarb"/>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.platinumgames.com/ PlatinumGames website]
* {{Twitter|HidekiKamiya_X}}
* {{Moby developer|88479/}}

{{portal bar|Biography|Japan|Video games}}
{{Hideki Kamiya}}
{{PlatinumGames}}
{{Clover Studio}}
{{Capcom}}
{{Devil May Cry}}
{{Viewtiful Joe}}
{{Ōkami}}
{{Bayonetta}}
{{Resident Evil}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamiya, Hideki}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Capcom people]]
[[Category:Japanese video game designers]]
[[Category:Japanese video game directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Matsumoto, Nagano]]