Shinji Mikami Launches New Game Studio, Unbound, Focusing on AAA and ‘AA’ Titles

Renowned video game designer Shinji Mikami, best known for his work on the Resident Evil series, has established a new independent game development studio called Unbound. The studio, which began operations in May 2023, is currently developing an original AAA title for PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC, alongside plans for smaller-scale projects.

A New Chapter After Tango Gameworks

Mikami’s departure from Tango Gameworks, a Bethesda-owned studio, occurred in 2023. Unbound was officially established on November 30, 2022 [1]. The studio currently employs around 50 people, with ambitions to grow to a team of 150 developers [1].

Focus on Original AAA IP and ‘AA’ Content

Unbound is described as a “fully independent company, developing high-end consumer games, creating original AAA titles” [1]. The studio is also pursuing “challenging smaller titles” alongside its AAA projects [1]. This strategy, aiming for “AAA quality and AA content,” is intended to deliver immersive gaming experiences [2].

Industry Veteran Collaboration

Masato Kimura, a producer on Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush, and a long-time collaborator with Mikami on titles like Devil May Cry and Resident Evil, is also involved with Unbound [1]. Kimura expressed surprise at the closure of Tango Gameworks in 2024, stating he had believed the studio would remain secure as long as it continued developing Hi-Fi Rush [1].

Mikami’s Legacy

Shinji Mikami began his career at Capcom in 1990 and is credited with directing the original Resident Evil (1996) and Dino Crisis (1999) [1]. He also directed the remake of Resident Evil (2002) and Resident Evil 4 (2005) [1]. Following Capcom, he founded PlatinumGames in 2006, directing Vanquish (2010), and later Tango Gameworks, where he directed The Evil Within (2014) [1]. He was recognized by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time in 2009 [1].

Unbound’s debut title is being developed using Unreal Engine 5 [4] and the team includes developers with experience on series such as Silent Hill, Shadow of the Colossus, and Hi-Fi Rush [4].