Hideki Kamiya, the legendary game director known for his work on titles such as Okami, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil 2, Bayonetta, and Viewtiful Joe, is making a triumphant return to the gaming industry. After a 20-year tenure at PlatinumGames, Kamiya has founded a new studio, Clovers Inc., and announced a sequel to the beloved Okami franchise. In an exclusive interview with VGC, Kamiya shared his passion for reviving the 18-year-old IP and the reasons behind his departure from PlatinumGames.
Okami Sequel Helmed By Kamiya Himself
Fulfilling A Long-Standing Ambition
Kamiya's desire to create sequels for Okami and Viewtiful Joe has been a long-standing ambition. He believes that the narratives of these games were left incomplete and feels a personal responsibility to tie up loose ends. Despite his efforts to convince Capcom to greenlight a sequel, his requests went unanswered. "The director himself is asking to make the game again, but they won’t even talk about it!" he humorously remarked in a YouTube video with fellow game director Ikumi Nakamura. Now, with Clovers Inc., and in collaboration with Capcom as the publisher, Kamiya's dream of an Okami sequel is finally coming to fruition.
New Sequel With New Studio, Clovers Inc.
Image from Clovers Inc. official website
Clovers Inc. is named in homage to Clover Studio, the original developer of Okami and Viewtiful Joe, and Kamiya's first team at Capcom that worked on Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry. Clover Studio, founded by former members of Capcom's Division 4, was a significant part of Kamiya's career, embodying a creative philosophy he still holds dear. "It was a company founded by former members of Capcom’s Division 4, built on the creative philosophy that [co-founder, Resident Evil creator] Mr. Mikami valued deeply. I’m still proud to have been part of that team. Though many years have passed since Clover Studio ceased to exist, the creative principles we held at the time remain just as important to me today," Kamiya told VGC.
Clovers Inc. is a joint venture with Kento Koyama, a former PlatinumGames colleague. After leaving PlatinumGames in October 2023, Kamiya was uncertain about his next move until Koyama proposed starting a new company together. Koyama serves as president, handling the business side, while Kamiya focuses on game development. "I’m a game developer, and my skill is making games. I can’t run a company," Kamiya admitted, praising Koyama's management skills.
Image from Clovers Inc. official website
Clovers Inc. currently employs 25 people across offices in Tokyo and Osaka, with plans for gradual expansion. Kamiya emphasized that the key to success lies not in the size of the team, but in their shared mindset. "For me, the most important thing isn’t building a huge company with lots of people—it’s ensuring that everyone shares the same mindset. I want to work with those who are truly passionate about creating something great, true creatives who can develop games with a strong core," he explained. Many team members are former PlatinumGames employees who share Kamiya's and Koyama's vision for game development.
On His Exit From PlatinumGames
Kamiya's departure from PlatinumGames, a company he co-founded and where he served as creative leader and vice president for two decades, came as a surprise to many. He hinted at internal changes that did not align with his philosophy of game creation. "If I was satisfied at Platinum, then I wouldn’t have left. There’s a way I believe games should be made: a philosophy, a mindset of how games should be made. Koyama approached me, and we shared the same mindset and philosophy about game development," he explained.
Despite the challenges, Kamiya is excited about the new Okami project. Starting from scratch with Koyama to build Clovers Inc. has been a thrilling journey for him. "Of course, the end goal of that is to make games, but just bringing people together and starting this company from nothing is also what’s really exciting for me."
Kamiya Apologizes For Snappy Remark To Fan
Kamiya, known for his sharp and often comedic social media responses, recently showed a softer side by apologizing to a fan he had previously insulted. On an X (Twitter) post dated December 16th at 2 AM EST, Kamiya shared his emotional reaction to fans' responses to the Okami sequel announcement. He was particularly moved by a fan's joyful reaction, only to realize later that he had previously responded harshly to her question. "She asked me a question. But in response, I was rudely shouting insults at her, and now I want to snap my own neck off…" he wrote, expressing remorse and posting the fan's video with the caption, "I like this person…and I’m sorry about what happened before…"
Kamiya has also been responding to fans' requests to be unblocked and has been reposting and complimenting fan-made art and cosplays related to the Okami sequel. However, he remains true to his candid nature, still calling out those who continue to annoy him.
