Koji Igarashi on going independent, giving fans a “classic Igavania-style game” with Bloodstained
Koji Igarashi left Konami after spending over 20 years with the company. By doing so, he was able to launch a very successful Kickstarter for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, a Castlevania spiritual successor.
Speaking about the decision to go independent with GamesRadar, Igarashi said:
“Three or four years ago I was working at Konami and didn’t have the opportunity to [make a game like Symphony of the Night]. When I saw the success of Mighty No. 9’s crowdfunding, it showed that fans can empower the creator and open up new doors. That was the spark I was looking for to leave Konami, go out on my own, be independent.”
Igarashi talked a bit about Bloodstained as well. Rather than focusing on innovation, the team is to provide “classic Igavania-style game” fans have long been requesting.
“My goal with this game is to give [players] that classic Igavania-style game that they want. First and foremost, we’re not shooting for innovation – we’re shooting for reviving that sort of gameplay that people have been wanting for the last five years, and that publishers and developers have really not been offering. So any innovation beyond that is the sort of spice and coolness.”
