Earlier this year, after the success of Hi-Fi Rush, studio head Shinji Mikami surprised us all by announcing that he was leaving the company. Shinji Mikami has been quiet ever since, but he seems ready to break that silence. Recently, the former "Evil Possessed" and "Resident Evil" producer said that the non-compete clause has ended and he may soon return to work. This signals a possible return to the gaming industry.
On October 11, 2023, Shinji Mikami shared a brief message on his personal Twitter about his return to gaming.
Shinji Mikami wrote: "Now that I have broken the curse of non-competition, I think I should start working. ”
The so-called "non-compete clause" may refer to the non-compete clause associated with Tango Game Studio. Shinji Mikami left Tango Game Studios in February 2023, following the successful launch of Hi-Fi Rush. At the time, Shinji Mikami did not comment, as he may have had little legitimate say in the matter at the time due to the aforementioned clause.
What many find strange is that Shinji Mikami would leave immediately after hosting the development of a hit game like Hi-Fi Rush, but the veteran game producer doesn't seem to have any plans to end his gaming career. Whether he ends up working for an established company or starting his own studio, it will be a fun thing to do. It's also worth noting that former Capcom developer Hideki Kamiya quipped that he will also return to the gaming industry in about a year after leaving his leadership role at Platinum Games.
Shinji Mikami officially left Tango in February this year, ending his 12-year career at the studio. After that, he returned to life "leisurely", often sharing photos of travel and food on social media, and playing games such as "Kingdom Tears" and "Resident Evil 4: Remake" during the period.
