“The failure of Scalebound was ultimately the responsibility of PlatinumGames, myself as director included”— Hideki Kamiya, creator of Devil May Cry and Okami, takes responsibility for Scalebound’s cancellation

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On September 15, 2025, VGA interviewed Kento Koyama, CEO of CLOVERS, and Hideki Kamiya, the studio’s head and chief game designer. During the conversation, Koyama and Kamiya discussed how CLOVERS was founded after Kamiya left PlatinumGames, and the financial difficulties they faced in getting started.

Hideki Kamiya talked about the enthusiastic response to the announcement of Okami 2 at The Game Awards 2024. He also explained how his work on the Bayonetta games influenced his direction of Okami 2, and shared what CLOVER Studios has planned after the game is released.

VGA recently asked Hideki Kamiya for his thoughts on the layoffs at Microsoft. He explained that while big companies sometimes have to reduce staff due to difficult situations, he’s committed to ensuring that CLOVERS doesn’t face the same fate, no matter what it takes.

During a recent interview, Hideki Kamiya discussed Scalebound, PlatinumGames’ cancelled action RPG. The game was notable for its fast-paced combat, similar to Devil May Cry, and its unique feature of riding dragons.

Hideki Kamiya suggested that Scalebound might have turned out better if it had been published by a Japanese company rather than Microsoft.

Right now, we’re focused on making the next Okami game because of our team’s size. But as we grow, we’d love to work on future Okami titles, explore completely new game ideas with other publishers, or even revisit other popular Capcom franchises. We’re excited about all those possibilities!

Hideki Kamiya, Studio Head/Chief Game Designer of CLOVERS

He explains this is because Japanese companies generally embrace new opportunities, while publishers outside of Japan prioritize quick project completion.

As an analyst, I’ve been following the situation closely, and Hideki Kamiya recently shared some interesting thoughts. He believes that while a Japanese publisher wouldn’t have *guaranteed* the game’s completion, it likely would have fostered a more positive and constructive development environment. Essentially, he feels the conversations and overall atmosphere would have been improved.

Hideki Kamiya emphasizes that the decision to cancel Scalebound was PlatinumGames’ responsibility, not Microsoft’s. The interview ends with a question about how PlatinumGames is doing now that Kamiya has moved on.

Let me be clear: the cancellation of Scalebound was ultimately on us at PlatinumGames, and as the director, I take responsibility for that. But having now worked with a publisher based overseas, I’ve learned a lot. If we ever get a chance like that again, I think we can really figure out how to combine our strengths and make something amazing happen.

Hideki Kamiya, Studio Head/Chief Game Designer of CLOVERS

He reports that he hasn’t heard from them through any channel, formal or informal. He also expressed satisfaction if the game developers who remained at PlatinumGames are aligned with the company’s future plans.

What could’ve been had PlatinumGames and Microsoft seen more eye-to-eye

With Hideki Kamiya now acknowledging his role in the cancellation of Scalebound, the possibility of the game ever being revived on Xbox is effectively over.

It’s disappointing that Scalebound was cancelled, because it seemed like a fantastic game for Xbox – with exciting, action-packed battles and the ability to ride dragons. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll never get to experience it.

As a huge fan of Hideki Kamiya, I’m really hoping his new studio, CLOVERS, has better luck than he did with Scalebound. Honestly, I’m *especially* crossing my fingers for Okami 2! Capcom fans – myself included – have been dreaming about a sequel ever since the first Okami came out way back in 2006, and it would be amazing to finally see it happen.

I’m optimistic about Okami 2’s development being more successful than Scalebound. This is because Hideki Kamiya, the director, is a well-known and experienced developer at the company, with a strong track record including directing popular games like the original Devil May Cry, Okami, Resident Evil 2, and Viewtiful Joe.

Given Hideki Kamiya’s history, I believe there’s a much better chance of him working with Capcom again. Our research indicates his previous attempt at collaboration with Microsoft, specifically on the *Scalebound* project, unfortunately ran into issues due to disagreements about the game’s direction.

As a researcher following CLOVERS’ work, I’m really hoping their success with *Resident Evil* leads to them being asked to breathe new life into some of Capcom’s older franchises. Titles like *Dino Crisis*, *God Hand*, and *Breath of Fire* have been dormant for a while, and I think CLOVERS could do amazing things with them. For now, all we can do is wait and see what Capcom decides.

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2025-09-16 17:12