One of the great misconceptions about the video game industry is that it’s an “incredible place to work in 100% of the time.” Even those who love their jobs within the industry will tell you that there is strife, stress, unresolved issues, and a ton of fear when you make every single game you’re attached to. One of the biggest issues in the gaming space right now is the fear of layoffs or being attached to a game you don’t want to make. Hideki Kamiya knows all about that, and that was the big reason why he left PlatinumGames before having to wait a year to re-emerge as the head of “Clovers Inc.”
At The Game Awards, it was revealed that Kamiya and his new team were working with Capcom to make an official Okami sequel, which excited many people. Yet, the details of what Clovers really was remained unclear.
Thankfully, Hideki Kamiya has been talking quite a bit about his new team, including to VGC, where he said that this group was about honoring the past while pushing forward into the future:
“Clover Studio is a milestone in my career that I can’t overlook. It was a company founded by former members of Capcom’s Division 4, built on the creative philosophy that [co-founder, Resident Evil creator] Mr. Mikami valued deeply. I’m still proud to have been part of that team. Though many years have passed since Clover Studio ceased to exist, the creative principles we held at the time remain just as important to me today. So, the name ‘Clover Studio’ isn’t about looking back with nostalgia. It’s about staying true to the values I’ve carried throughout my 30-year career. Those values have always been my foundation, and they’ll continue to guide me.”
However, if you think that making Clovers was entirely Kamiya’s idea, you would be wrong. Instead, he was approached by fellow developer Kento Koyama, who asked Hideki what he would do once he was free to make games again. When Hideki noted he “didn’t know,” Koyama suggested they make a studio together. Kamiya was up for this because he just wanted to make games but couldn’t run a company himself and do so. Thus, Hideki works on the games, and Koyama keeps the studio running.
To that end, the team at Clovers is locked-in on one key thing:
“For me, the most important thing isn’t building a huge company with lots of people—it’s ensuring that everyone shares the same mindset. I want to work with those who are truly passionate about creating something great, true creatives who can develop games with a strong core.”
