Shinji Mikami, known for directing several acclaimed Resident Evil games, abruptly departed from his role as the head of Tango Gameworks in February 2023, which was under Bethesda and Microsoft, following the tremendous success of Hi-Fi Rush. Recently, he hinted at a comeback to the gaming industry with the unveiling of a new studio called Kamuy in March 2024. Mikami had reportedly been contemplating leaving Tango Gameworks for some time, partly to take a break from survival horror.
In an interview with Byking (translated by Automaton), Shinji Mikami revealed that he had actually considered leaving as far back as 2015 but remained to support the development of young talent within Tango Gameworks. This involved working on smaller games with shorter development cycles.
Shinji Mikami explained that when ZeniMax acquired Tango Gameworks in 2010, he served as CEO for only six months. Following the acquisition, Tango Gameworks became more integrated into the larger company structure rather than operating as an independent entity. Consequently, although he held a producer title, he lacked executive control over projects.
Another significant factor influencing Mikami’s departure was his desire to break away from his association with horror games. He had launched his career at Capcom with the Resident Evil series and continued to develop similar titles at Tango Gameworks, such as The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo.
Shinji Mikami initiated Kamuy, his new studio, around March 2024, although details regarding the team and projects are still under wraps. The future steps Mikami will take with Kamuy are eagerly anticipated.
About the Author
Khushaal Singh
he/him
You can find Khush at your local hardcore gig, writing crappy short stories, or scouring the internet for an obscure indie game to set his teeth into. If not, he will probably be setting himself up for osteoarthritis, by trying to set a new PB in his rhythm game of choice for the month.
