This article contains spoilers for Bayonetta 3.After five years of waiting, Bayonetta 3 is finally at the fingertips of fans. The high-octane action game may not be the full package that fans were hoping for, but Platinum Games’ excellent combat design still shines through even in its darkest moments. With Bayonetta 3 under the belt, fans wondered what was next for the action-centric developer. Platinum already has a couple of well-known projects underway, but the new approach to live-service gaming and the end of Bayonetta 3 has given many fans pause. However, neither of them suspected that Platinum’s next project was indeed Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon.
This exclusive Nintendo Switch was revealed during the 2022 Game Awards, and came as a shock to many. Besides the obvious elements on the surface of having a completely distinct art style and focusing on a young Bayonetta and her doll Cheshire, Bayonetta origin are thoroughly separated. First, this is an isometric action-adventure title with less emphasis on combat rather than a third-person hack-and-slash game. Even more surprising was the fact that this game would be released five months later Bayonetta 3launch, and three months after its own unveiling. Considering the extended development in the past Bayonetta game has had, this came as a big shock.
Bayonetta 3 heralded the arrival of Bayonetta Origins
This is a new move for Platinum Games, and fans are rightly surprised. However, there have been several hints about it Bayonetta origin was just around the corner. By far the biggest came in the form of a secret chapter i Bayonetta 3. Players could purchase an old picture book from Rodin, and then had to find three hidden keys to open it. Doing so would take players to a short sequence of Cereza, in which she is seen Bayonetta origin, explore part of the mysterious Avalon Woods. The chapter ending with an apparent teaser trailer was understood to mean that a game based on it was fast approaching, although no one knew how fast it would be.
Bayonetta 3 is filled with indicators that the franchise is no longer what it once was. First, all Bayonettas named Cereza have been wiped out, and only one version’s daughter, Viola, is the heir to the Bayonetta name. This means that a hypothetical Bayonetta 4 would probably focus on Viola who Devil May Cry 4 and 5 did on Nero. However, it also opens the door for spin-offs covering different eras and universes Bayonetta‘s multiverse. The introduction of Fairies i Bayonetta lore via Lukas Strider transformation and an alternate fairy king Luka was also eye-catching, and Bayonetta origin seems to pick up this thread.
Real-life developments may have led to the Bayonetta origin
Platinum Games itself has undergone many changes in recent years. The studio has expanded significantly, even opening up a second location specifically for live-service game development. Neither usual Bayonetta or Bayonetta origin is part of this, but as with most of Platinum’s major single-player releases, is Bayonetta series are often made at a loss. The employees still have an interest in developing old-school action games, but they need money to operate, hence their live-service pivot. This is where Bayonetta origin comes in.
It’s clear from the playable teaser in Bayonetta 3 that Bayonetta origin was evolving alongside the larger game. This title will probably be scaled down significantly in both budget and team size, but that’s the point. If Platinum Games can establish one or two successful indie-level development teams, it may have a backup plan if several giant projects like Fall of Babylon prove unsuccessful. Leading the effort with what is essentially the company’s mascot makes sense, and can have the added benefit of providing Bayonetta pursues a more appealing direction to go after the controversial Bayonetta 3. Regardless, Bayonetta origin is fast approaching, and will hopefully be a nice interlude between Platinum’s bigger, crazier projects.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon launching on March 17, 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
