Hideki Kamiya Comments on Bayonetta 3’s Controversial Ending

Hideki Kamiya has officially addressed the heated debate surrounding the final scenes of Bayonetta 3. For years, fans have wondered what the conclusion meant for the future of the series and its iconic lead character. While the game was a critical success, many players were left confused or upset by the story’s final direction. To clear the air, Kamiya explained that many people might have misunderstood the fate of the protagonist in Bayonetta 3. The creator wanted to explain his vision for the narrative now that he is no longer at the studio. This clarification comes as a relief to those who feared the series was moving in a completely different direction.

The following contains spoilers for Bayonetta 3.

The development for the release of this title was a long one, beginning with a teaser trailer that debuted all the way back in 2017. Fans waited nearly five years before they could finally experience the game on the Nintendo Switch in late 2022. During this period, expectations for the Umbra Witch’s return skyrocketed, with fans forming very specific ideas about what a sequel should look like. Kamiya, the creative mind behind the series, eventually moved on from PlatinumGames to found his own team called Clovers. He noted in an interview with VGC that this gap between his creative goals and the “firmly established image” held by the community made the launch a bit of a “perplexing experience” for him. He now admits that he might have left a bit too much up to interpretation for the audience.

Bayonetta Creator Wanted to Continue the Series

Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya hints at what his plans for the future of the supernatural third-person action series could have been like.

Kamiya Explains the Multiverse and Bayonetta’s Fate

One of the most talked-about aspects of Bayonetta 3 was the introduction of a multiverse, which some felt appeared out of nowhere. Kamiya disagrees, stating in his new book, The World of Hideki Kamiya (excerpts translated by Nintendo Everything), that “actually the existence of a multiverse was depicted from the first Bayonetta.” He points to a scene where a young child is sent back to the past, causing the timeline to split into parallel worlds. Kamiya explains that in the scene following that battle, the background is “doubled-up and blurred,” which serves as a visual hint of “two worlds existing in parallel.” He admits that “the explanations were not sufficient” in the first game, but argues that clues like the moon still existing in the sequels—despite being destroyed in the original—show that the multiverse has always been the foundation of the story. He believes that “the theme of the multiverse has always been at the root of the series,” even if it wasn’t explicitly stated until the third entry.

The most significant point of contention among the community was the apparent death of the lead character at the end of the game. Many fans believed the story concluded with her death and the torch being passed to Viola as the new protagonist. Kamiya now admits that “that was a big miscalculation on my part” regarding how much space should be left for interpretation. He clarifies that “some amongst the players imagined the situation quite negatively, and just accepted that ‘Bayonetta is dead.'” To set the record straight, he stated, “To say it clearly, the ending of Bayonetta 3 does imply that Bayonetta is still alive.” He points to the game’s menu, where a photo of Viola includes Luka in the background, suggesting that if Luka is present in that world, then the Umbra Witch likely is as well.

bayonetta 3 overview trailer switch cereza viola

There were other subtle details hidden in the finale that suggest the world of Bayonetta 3 had been restored or changed significantly. For example, Kamiya notes that Enzo calls his wife during the ending even though she was supposedly already dead earlier in the game. He also highlights a specific line from Rodin to Viola about her “pops” hearing about her skipping class. While some fans thought Rodin was just talking to a spirit in the underworld, Kamiya clarified that “that is not the case” and that Luka is physically alive and present. He even addressed the ending dance, explaining that the three crystals represent the three main games merging into “one light” to signify the creation of a brand-new world. Kamiya felt it was important to clarify these points because he is no longer involved with the brand and wanted to give the community some definitive answers.

Balance the critic averages

Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)

Now that he is leading his new studio, Clovers, Kamiya is focusing his energy on a direct sequel to the adventure game Okami. He mentioned that this new project is “extremely fun” and that he is trying to think “more deeply” about what players might expect from a sequel this time around. Although the future of the Bayonetta franchise is now in the hands of the remaining staff at PlatinumGames, Kamiya’s insights have provided some much-needed closure for the community. Fans can now go back and replay the trilogy with a new understanding of how the timelines fit together and what the future might hold for the series. Whether a fourth game happens soon or not, the mystery of the third game’s ending has finally been solved by its creator.