This article contains spoilers for Bayonetta 3.After five years of waiting, Bayonetta 3 is finally at fans' fingertips. 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 the darkest moments. With Bayonetta 3 under its belt, fans were wondering what was next for the action-centric developer. Platinum already has a couple known projects in the works, but its new approach to live-service games and the ending of Bayonetta 3 have given many fans pause. However, none of them suspected that Platinum's next project was actually Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon.
Revealed during the 2022 Game Awards, this Nintendo Switch exclusive came as a shock to many. Besides the obvious surface level elements of having a completely distinct art style and focusing on a young Bayonetta and her doll Cheshire, Bayonetta Origins is thoroughly set apart. For one, this is an isometric action-adventure title with de-emphasized combat instead of a third-person hack-and-slash game. Even more surprising was the fact that this game would release five months after Bayonetta 3's launch, and three months after its own reveal. Considering the extended development past Bayonetta games have had, this came as a major shock.
Bayonetta 3 Foreshadowed the Coming of Bayonetta Origins
This is a new move for Platinum Games, and fans are justifiably surprised. However, there have been several hints that Bayonetta Origins was just around the corner. The largest by far came in the form of a secret Chapter in Bayonetta 3. Players could purchase an Old Picture Book from Rodin, and would then have to find three hidden keys to open it. Doing so would take players to a short sequence of Cereza, as she is seen in Bayonetta Origins, exploring 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, though no one knew how fast that would be.
Bayonetta 3 is filled with indicators that the franchise is no longer what it once was. For one, all Bayonetta's with the name Cereza have been wiped out, only leaving one version's daughter, Viola, as the inheritor of the Bayonetta name. This means that a hypothetical Bayonetta 4 would probably focus on Viola like Devil May Cry 4 and 5 did on Nero. However, it also opens the door for spin-offs covering different eras and universes in Bayonetta's multiverse. The introduction of Fairies into Bayonetta lore via Luka's Strider transformation and an alternate Faerie king Luka was also conspicuous, and Bayonetta Origins seems to pick up this particular thread.
Real-Life Developments May Have Led To Bayonetta Origins
Platinum Games itself has undergone a lot of changes in the past few years. The studio has expanded significantly, even opening up a second location specifically for the development of live-service games. Neither regular Bayonetta nor Bayonetta Origins are part of this, but as with most of Platinum's major singleplayer releases, the Bayonetta series are often made at a loss. Its 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 Origins comes in.
It's clear by the playable teaser in Bayonetta 3 that Bayonetta Origins was in development alongside the larger game. This title will probably be considerably scaled back in both budget and team size, but that's the point. If Platinum Games can establish one or two successful indie-level development teams, then it could have a backup plan if more giant projects like Babylon's Fall prove unsuccessful. Leading the effort with what is essentially the company's mascot makes sense, and could have the added benefit of giving Bayonetta sequels a more appealing direction to go after the controversial Bayonetta 3. Regardless, Bayonetta Origins is fast approaching, and will hopefully be a nice interlude between Platinum's larger, crazier projects.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will launch on March 17, 2023, for Nintendo Switch.
