https://www.videogameschronicle.com...ecret-project-is-unlike-anything-done-before/
development of bayo 3
2019 will be a big year for platinum
the new project is something that has never been done before
platinum wants to finally have their own IPs, starting with two unannounced project
owning their own IPs will give them the freedom to work on projects and sequels that they want
they will still work with big publishers and on pre-existing IPs
development of bayo 3
Bayonetta 3 will see a change in design process based on Platinum's experience creating the first two games, Inaba added, and the firm is midway through creating an unannounced title which he claimed "has never been done before".
2019 will be a big year for platinum
"2019 will be an incredibly important year for us," Inaba told VGC. "Without speaking directly to the number of titles we may or may not announce, I can say it's going to be a year of some major new approaches, new challenges and new methods for us.
"Basically, we're building a new foundation that in later years will pay dividends. For us, new challenges are going to be very important."
Inaba said Platinum's new approaches can be broken down into changes to its business model, including a move away from relying on external publisher funding, as well as an examination of how it structures game design. He claimed the latter has led to an exciting new development project.
the new project is something that has never been done before
"Right now we're in the middle of designing something that has never been done before. I know a lot of people say that, but the game we're working on truly is unlike anything else," he said.
"Even for our varied history of veteran game developers, this is something that has never been designed before. So from a game design perspective, we're very excited right now."
platinum wants to finally have their own IPs, starting with two unannounced project
During its first decade, Platinum's reliance on game franchises it doesn't own hasn't always left the company with a clear route forward, especially when it comes to negotiating sequels. Sega, the owner of the Bayonetta IP, eventually granted Platinum the right to make more games with Nintendo, however many of the studio's other former creations, including Vanquish and Mad World, remain dormant.
Even the upcoming Astral Chain is being created under an agreement that sees the IP remain with Nintendo and not Platinum.
Inaba has said he is determined to break the cycle with the creation of two new independent IPs owned entirely by the studio, neither of which have been announced. This will finally give the studio the freedom to choose entirely its own directions, including making sequels, he said.
owning their own IPs will give them the freedom to work on projects and sequels that they want
"It's absolutely the truth that there are cases where you want to do a sequel but if you don't own the IP, you can't do it," Inaba explained.
"It's that simple, and quite frankly in the case of Bayonetta it took a lot of time and energy to get it to the point where sequels could be made. It wasn't as simple as picking up the phone and asking, 'hey, can we do this?' There were a lot of pieces that needed to fall into place and a lot of negotiating that had to occur.
"That's a pain. That's a hassle. For us as creators, we want to get to the point where self-publishing allows us to own our IP and do what we want with it, including making sequels. So the faster we can have that freedom, the better if will be for all the creators here."
they will still work with big publishers and on pre-existing IPs
However, the pursuit of wholly-owned IP doesn't necessarily mean the end of collaborations, Inaba said, such as Platinum's previous work on Metal Gear Solid and Star Fox.
"Quite frankly, what it means is we have a lot of different choices in the way that we want to make games," he said.