Bayonetta Origins Director Becomes Part of PlayStation’s Housemarque Team

Abebe Tinari, previously a director at the well-known Japanese studio Platinum Games, is making a significant move to Housemarque, a PlayStation studio in Finland. At Housemarque, he’ll be taking on the role of Lead Game Designer, a position sure to benefit from his extensive experience.

Recently, gaming enthusiasts on ResetEra discovered that Tinari updated his LinkedIn profile, indicating his new association with Housemarque. While it’s still under wraps what specific projects he’ll be involved with, previous job postings hinted that the studio is diving into a AAA action game complete with challenging boss battles.

Last December, Tinari shared an intriguing update on BlueSky, announcing his relocation to Helsinki. This sparked widespread curiosity and speculation among other BlueSky users, many of whom correctly assumed he was joining Housemarque. There were also whispers about the possibility of him being linked to Remedy, the creative minds behind Alan Wake.

Reflecting on his journey, Tinari dedicated over a decade to Platinum Games. He initially contributed to the English localization of Bayonetta 2 and eventually took the helm as director for Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. His portfolio also boasts roles in developing games like Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Star Fox Guard, and the never-released Xbox-exclusive, Scalebound.

When Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon hit the shelves for the Nintendo Switch in 2023, it was warmly received, earning a commendable Metascore of 80 on Metacritic. Tinari’s leadership was complemented by the creative input of Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya.

Housemarque, based in Helsinki, has been making waves in the gaming industry since its inception in 1993. Initially, the studio found success with titles like Super Stardust HD and Dead Nation on the PS3. Renowned for their unique arcade-inspired games such as Resogun, Alienation, and Nex Machina, the studio took a bold step in 2021 with the release of Returnal, a PS5 roguelike third-person shooter. This new direction received much acclaim and has garnered several updates post-launch.

Our review of Returnal, penned by Chandler Wood, awarded it a stellar 10 out of 10, declaring it “an essential PS5 title, now and throughout the console’s life.”