Hideki Kamiya rejoins Capcom, establishing a new Clovers studio to develop a sequel to Okami
Hideki Kamiya has rejoined Capcom, assuming leadership of a newly established studio, Clovers. This industry veteran now leads the team as studio head and chief game designer on their inaugural endeavor: a follow-up to the 2006 classic, Okami, a title for which Kamiya originally served as director.
The studio's public introduction coincided with the reveal of the Okami sequel at the recent The Game Awards. Several team members from the original production are collaborating on the new project.
As detailed on the official game website, Clovers collaborates with two additional studios: M-Two, recognized for its work on Okami HD and the remakes of Resident Evil 3 and 4, and Machine Head Works, which appears new as their web presence was launched just two days back.
The studio's formation announcement states that, despite having offices in Osaka and Tokyo, Clovers comprises a "core group of elites who create and develop the 'core' of games." This structure necessitates collaboration with co-development partners.
The motivation behind naming Kamiya's new studio is homage to Clover Studio, once owned by Capcom, responsible for developing the original Okami, God Hand, and Viewtiful Joe series.
Kamiya's initial stint with Clover began in 2004 before the studio's closure in late 2006, mere months after Okami's release. Following this, Kamiya, alongside Atsushi Inaba and Shinji Mikami, co-founded PlatinumGames with Tatsuya Minami. After 17 years, Kamiya announced his departure in September 2023.
In a message on Clovers' website, Kamiya expressed, "I left a larger organization to pursue independent development aligned with my creative principles. Supported by like-minded friends, I've found a setting where I can proudly create engaging games to share with all."
"Though our team is small, we possess tremendous passion. We aim to create experiences that bring joy to gamers, remaining true to the ideals that first drove me to join the gaming industry."
