While Shinji Mikami, known for his work on a variety of critically-acclaimed games, had left his previous studio, Tango Gameworks, a year before its eventual closure, it looks like he has since been working on a new game. In an interview from last year with Japanese job recruitment site Nidan Jump, as caught by GamesRadar), former Tango Gameworks producer Masato Kimura spoke about working with Mikami.
While Mikami had founded a brand new studio, KAMUY, that would focus on smaller projects that have short development periods, Kimura has spoken about working with the former Resident Evil director, indicating that the two are working on something together at Kimura’s studio, Unbound. He noted that the studio is committed to working on Mikami’s projects, which involve small teams of new and veteran developers.
While no further details have been revealed, the official website for Unbound also features a strange message that might be related to one of Mikami’s projects.
“He creates it in his own unique environment,” it reads. “It has always been that way. He lives surrounded by what he loves. Nothing can bend him. People around me say I’m a bit strange, but I’ve gotten used to it. A world of his own? No, it’s a world that is not bound by anything.”
“If asked to list five characteristics, he would probably say, ‘Numbers are interesting, because constraints are like a game.’ There’s probably no particular problem, he’ll be fine.”
While Mikami’s new studio, KAMUY, has been known about for a couple of years now, the former director of Shadows of the Damned has continued to maintain his silence. The only real comment we’ve seen from him since his departure from Tango Gameworks was back in May 2024, when he said that the studio’s closure was “Sad”.
Mikami has had a storied career in the gaming industry. Having originally started his career at Capcom in 1990, he became well-known to gamers at large thanks to his directorial efforts for the original Resident Evil 1996. He also worked on other titles, including Dino Crisis. By the early 2000s, he had returned to the franchise to work on the GameCube remake of Resident Evil, as well as the critically-acclaimed Resident Evil 4.
Throughout his time at the company, Mikami has also tried his hand at other genres, most notably with his work on God Hand. 2006 would see him found PlatinumGames, and directing stylish third-person shooter Vanquish, which came out in 2010. Eventually, Mikami founded Tango Gameworks, and served as director on its debut release—2014’s The Evil Within.
Other titles by the studio would see him serve as executive producer, including The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Tango Gameworks’ final release, 2023’s Hi-Fi Rush. When it comes to taking on different roles on a variety of projects, Mikami has also worked as a writer on Killer7, producer on Resident Evil 2, and executive producer on Devil May Cry.
In the meantime, several former employees of Tango Gameworks have announced that they are re-founding the studio. While no details of its new projects have been revealed, the studio noted that its logo was designed to impart a “hand-made” feel.
