Bayonetta Origins Director Becomes Part of PlayStation’s Housemarque Team

Abebe Tinari, renowned for his role as the director of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, is making a significant career move. Transitioning from his position at the Japanese game developer, Platinum Games, Tinari will now lead as the Game Designer at Housemarque, a Finnish game studio well-respected in the gaming industry.

Observant users from ResetEra recently noticed Tinari’s updated LinkedIn profile, which now lists Housemarque as his current workplace. While the specific project Tinari will be tackling remains under wraps, a previous job listing from the studio hinted at an ambitious AAA action game that might include boss fights—a genre Tinari is no stranger to.

Tinari’s relocation to Helsinki was hinted at in a BlueSky update he shared in mid-December. Following this news, speculation swirled among fellow BlueSky users, many of whom correctly guessed that Tinari would join Housemarque. There were also whispers about him possibly collaborating with Remedy, the creators of Alan Wake.

Tinari’s career at Platinum Games spanned over 11 years. He began with the English localization for Bayonetta 2 and eventually directed Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. His varied portfolio also includes contributions to Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Star Fox Guard, and the now-canceled Xbox project, Scalebound.

When Bayonetta Origins launched on Nintendo Switch in 2023, it was met with favorable reviews, earning a Metascore of 80 on Metacritic. Tinari worked alongside the esteemed Hideki Kamiya, the creator of Bayonetta, in crafting the storyline.

Housemarque, based in Helsinki, has a storied history dating back to 1993. While they initially garnered a niche following, games like Super Stardust HD and Dead Nation on the PS3 elevated their status in the mainstream gaming arena. The studio has maintained its reputation with arcade-style hits such as Resogun, Alienation, and Nex Machina.

Their 2021 title, Returnal, marked a bold shift from their arcade roots. This PS5 roguelike third-person shooter was well-received critically and continues to enjoy post-launch updates. Reflecting on Returnal, reviewer Chandler Wood praised it highly, awarding a perfect score and calling it “an essential PS5 title, now and throughout the console’s life.”