May 032019
We’ve barely heard anything about Bayonetta 3 since it was announced, which is disappointing.
However, PlatinumGames has referenced its development from time to time, and the latest update comes along with teases for other planned games.
In a recent interview with VGC, Platinum’s studio head Atsushi Inaba said they are moving away from the “orthodox development process” used for Bayonetta 1 and 2 and that fans may recognize this while playing Bayonetta 3.
It’s unclear what he means, but it might explain why we’ve gone so long without seeing more from the game.
While describing the development of the first two Bayonetta games, he said, “We did stage one, then stage two, then stage three and built up the drama and the pacing chronologically.” Development of Bayonetta 3 is not following that process. Maybe this non-chronological development means they haven’t had anything early enough to show off.
And if it’s something the player might notice, I can’t help but wonder if we have more time travel coming in the plot.
In the rest of the interview, Inaba spoke about how PlatinumGames is working toward an approach where they’ll be able to own and control their IP, which gives them freedom and also lets them create sequels.
(Remember, Bayonetta 2 almost didn’t happen at all until Nintendo stepped in, despite Platinum having plans for it. They’d like to avoid that sort of situation in the future.)
They still plan to partner with publishers for certain games, but right now they have plans for two new unannounced IPs. Inaba also referenced an unannounced game that “has never been done before.”
In other words, PlatinumGames is busy! We have Astral Chain coming August 30 for the Nintendo Switch, Bayonetta 3 coming to the Switch at an unknown date, Babylon’s Fall announced for this year for the PS4 and PC, and now two unannounced games as well.
I’m excited for Astral Chain, Bayonetta 3, and Babylon’s Fall, so I’m looking forward to hearing about the new games as well… although preferably after we’ve seen more from Bayonetta 3. And will we ever see The Wonderful 101 or a sequel on the Switch?
How do you feel about PlatinumGames using a different design process for Bayonetta 3? What are your hopes for their unannounced titles? Share your thoughts in the comments!
---If you want posts like this delivered straight to your inbox, enter your email in the box below to subscribe!
So I read your article… and then I read it again…And then the VGC interview.
And we really don’t know what they mean by the new design process, or what the old one was. It sounds like they’re describing the waterfall design methodology for Bayonetta 1 and Bayonetta 2 and maybe they learned to do something else.
The “built up the drama and the pacing chronologically” part is what made me think they could be working on parts of the game in a non-chronological way, although I’m not sure why he was hinting that the player might be able to notice. Those parts made me wonder if their new design process is tied in with the story somehow.
I mean, that’s how we generally write things, right? We do the introduction last.
Most game designers put the most amount of effort into developing the introduction of a game and refining that intro part continually throughout the development process. Maybe Platinum… didn’t do that before?
That’s how I’m interpreting it.
We do? XD
I mean, I edit things, and eventually go back and focus more on the beginning, but almost always start out going from start to finish. I’ve written first chapters last, but only because I eventually realized my intended first chapter didn’t work well enough.
Well, in the waterfall method, once you finish a stage, you’re done with it, and then move on to the next. Very sequential.
In writing and game development, you make a sort of half-hearted attempt at an introduction, do the body, and then go back and write the introduction last.
I mean you kinda just said you do that. From that brief interview excerpt, it sounds like Platinum didn’t.
Hmm, I see. I wonder why they wouldn’t just say that, then.
’cause I dunno if that’s what they actually meant. That’s just what it sounds like.
Or maybe they think that’s too hard to describe in their interview setting. So they wanna be characteristically cryptic.
With the “And that’s all the hints you get!” response, I’d say he was definitely trying to be cryptic.