Clovers, which is working on the much-anticipated sequel to Okami, has been slowly expanding its team. According to VideoGamesChronicle, the company has expanded its audio team to include composers Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Hitomi Kurokawa, and Aoba Nakanishi. All three are industry veterans and have worked with various members of the studio’s leadership before.
Yamaguchi, for instance, is known for his work on the Bayonetta trilogy, Star Fox Zero, and even composed for the original Okami. Kurokawa also worked on Bayonetta and The Wonderful 101. Nakanishi composed for Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon during her time at PlatinumGames.
The audio team also includes Misaki Shindo and Hiroki Niwa. The former has previously worked on projects like NieR: Automata and The Wonderful 101. The latter was formerly a member of Team Ninja and worked as a sound designer on games like Ninja Gaiden 4 and Bayonetta 3.
Clovers was founded by several veteran game developers, including Hideki Kamiya. The studio announced it was working on a sequel to Okami back in December 2024. While few details have been revealed, Kamiya has confirmed it will be a “new adventure” in the vein of the original 2006 release, and that Amaterasu will once again be the protagonist. Following the game’s announcement, Kamiya said that it will be “some time” before more details are revealed.
“Like a strong rising sun, this project is finally in motion. But it’s still a small bud that is blossoming. We are ready to fill this new Okami with many colourful flowers, and to do our best to fulfil the promise of ‘next time’ in the best way.”
Kamiya left PlatinumGames back in 2023 after serving as the studio’s vice president and being one of its co-founders. He would team up with Kento Koyama to found Clovers in 2024.
Earlier this year, Clovers CEO and president Kento Koyama said that the studio is “hard at work” on the Okami sequel, and that its release was “still a ways off”.
“We cannot wait to get the finished game into your hands. We will continue to work tirelessly this year to deliver an experience that surpasses the expectations of players all over the world.”
Kamiya, who is serving as director on the project, spoke about how the company has been building up its team since its origins as “just a handful of us sharing a cramped rental office”.
“We’ve assembled an elite team of highly skilled professionals with shared ideals. And while the chaos is as lively as ever, our days are filled with joy and creativity. Ultimately, everyone at Clovers is united around a single desire: to deliver fun to our players. That’s our one and only mission, and it will remain that way this year, next year, and all the years after that. With my like-minded comrades at my side, I am truly looking forward to another year of lively chaos.”
