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Japanese developer Ikumi Nakamura , known for her study onKemuri , Ghostwire : Tokyo , andThe Evil Within , has one of the most prominent life history in the gambling industry and , most specifically , within the revulsion genre . She became a viral sensation having presented a trailer forGhostwire : Tokyoat E3 2019 and show her work at Tango Gameworks . However , Nakamura begin her work long before , having set forth as a background production creative person forOkamiat Clover Studios . subsequently on , with the gag rule of Clover and the start of PlatinumGames , the developer work as a concept artist for the reputableBayonetta .
Nakamura ’s name had been tightly connect to Hideki Kamiya having worked with him at Clover and PlatinumGames , and then she became anapprentice to Shinji Mikami , the creator of theResident Evilseries as they work out together onThe Evil Withinat Tango Gameworks . In 2021,Ikumi Nakamura announced that she had started her own studio , unobserved , following her departure from Tango in 2019 . In 2023 , she then announcedKemuri , the new studio ’s first project , which has yet to be released . At BGS 2024,Screen Ranthad the chance to talk to her about her career and what ’s to do .
What We Know About Kemuri So Far
An Ambitious Game Still Shrouded In Mystery
So far , very few details aboutKemurihave been revealed . The game was one of theannouncements at The Game Awards 2023and the reveal come alongside a short cinematic trailer . Kemuriis a young action game by Unseen set in a population that blends “ traditional Japanese folklore , modernistic culture , anime aesthetic and outside flair where supernatural wonders exist just beyond the vision of ordinary people . ”The game will put players in the role of a yokai hunter , where they will fight their target area in “ tight - pace combat . ”
establish on the drone , it seems likeKemuriwill sport a heavy dosage of parkour - inspire geographic expedition and drive to traverse a heavily urbanised city with hints of cyberpunk in its design . The plot seems to feature several characters for players to either choose or create , each with alone ability , and a roll of yokai - inspired creatures that will in all likelihood be the prey of the hunting watch . The game promises to volunteer players “ experiential themes and moral quandary ” during the Richard Morris Hunt , though it is unsure to what extent .
Despite its original flaws being present , the timber of this game and its comprehension on Game Pass make trying it out an light passport .
The details aboutKemurias a product are also still mysterious , asthe game by Unseen does not have a release window nor are the platform for which it will be released known so far . It ’s believe that the debut title of respect is still in development and that more details should be made public once the studio apartment has more concrete information to put up . Compared to larger AAA studio apartment , unobserved is a small operation with around 60 employees across developer and other roles , such as PR and Community Manager .
Screen Rant Chats With Ikumi Nakamura On Her Favorite Games & What Inspires Kemuri’s Art Style
The Developer Takes Influence From Her First Job In The Gaming Industry
Screen Rant : Just to kick things off , what are your top three game of all meter ?
Ikumi Nakamura : It ’s a difficult interrogative sentence , is n’t it ? The first two areDevil May CryandResident Evil 3.And the third isKemuri , which I am developing right now .
Screen Rant : FromOkamiat Clover Studios toKemuriat Unseen now , how would you say your perception of art has shift over the year ?
Ikumi Nakamura : Okamiis a stylise game , and from the experience I gathered with it , I was able to apply a unequalled way toKemuri . Kemurihas a more Nipponese - influenced vogue , but with some American influences , such as those fromSpider - Man : Into The Spider - Verse . We also use this clash - alike style inKemuri , an influence that comes fromOkami , too .
Ikumi Nakamura States Art & Multiculturalism Are At The Forefront Of Unseen
Kemuri Should Transmit Some Of The Studio’s Ideals
Screen blah : Art has been a pillar for the very structure of Unseen . You ’ve been headhunting artists from various backgrounds from the most varied roles , like Denise Rashidi and Liam Wong . How do you think Unseen stands out from other studios with its heavy investment funds in art across all section ?
Ikumi Nakamura : I suppose Unseen pays a luck of aid to art and it has several people with different backgrounds , from across the worldly concern , like the two you mentioned . So , I think Unseen is dissimilar from other studios in that sensation because of its multiculturalism . When I was looking for a developer , I ’d send subject matter to people all around the world and not only the Japanese .
The same go for creative person . Additionally , we have a stack of talented people from other backgrounds . Liam [ Wong ] , for instance , come from photography , which I believe grant him a unique toolkit . I trust get all these talents with dissimilar background signal can positively contribute toKemuri .
Screen Rant : picture game as art have a very unique way of spreading their substance to the players . WithOkami , which you worked on , I understood myself as an Asian man and finally came to full term with the idea that I was different than most of my white friends and workfellow , but still every bit interesting and authoritative . What types of message do you desire to disseminate with unobserved and its game ?
Ikumi Nakamura : I believe that one of the central message for both Unseen andKemuriis multiculturalism . Unseen is a borderless company . We have masses working from unlike places across the world and they all have different ages , backgrounds , sexuality , and ethnicity . I think that this type of concord established by the multiculturalism we ’ve achieved is something that ’s really of import , hold all character of people play together .
How Ikumi Nakamura Sees Horror As A Genre
The Unseen Leader Talks About Her First Contact With Horror
Screen fustian : You ’ve been an icon that ’s deeply connect with horror and the paranormal , and , despite your divergent personality from anything horror - like or supernatural , you ’ve embraced it . What pulls you toward horror as a genre and a medium ? Do you suppose horror can aid enjoin stories that other genre can not openly tackle ?
Ikumi Nakamura : Since I was small , I ’ve savour horror movies - a lot of this was influenced by my sept . At the old age of two , I was already watching horror movies and reading Junji Ito ’s mangas . This is what help me get into repulsion across all types of media , admit game .
I think horror has the unique capacity of talking about the human experience in a mode that other genres ca n’t quite do . revulsion tackles several part of the human personality and is the only one that can adequately talk over the ugly parts . Horror , as a medium and a genre , does a fantastic way of portraying this .
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
More details onKemuriand its coming release will hopefully be revealed in 2025 .
