Bayonetta

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Bayonetta is a popular action-adventure video game series created by Hideki Kamiya. It’s made by PlatinumGames and originally published by Sega, with Nintendo handling publishing for the sequels. The games follow Bayonetta, a witch who fights with dual pistols, guns built into her high heels, and her hair, which can become powerful weapons.

The first game, Bayonetta, came out in 2009 in Japan and worldwide in 2010 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Bayonetta 2 launched in 2014 for Wii U, with Nintendo later bringing it to other platforms. Bayonetta 3 was released for Nintendo Switch in 2022. A prequel, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, released in 2023.

Bayonetta is seen as PlatinumGames’ flagship franchise and one of Sega’s best-known series. The first game was directed by Hideki Kamiya; Bayonetta 2 was directed by Yusuke Hashimoto with Kamiya supervising. The games have received strong reviews and praise from fans.

Sales have varied by platform, but the series has performed well and generated many fans. The first game shipped over 1.35 million copies at launch, with later remasters and Switch releases boosting its reach. Bayonetta 3 won Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2022, highlighting the series’ continued impact.

Bayonetta has also appeared in other games, including Anarchy Reigns, The Wonderful 101, and the Super Smash Bros. series. An animated film, Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, released in 2013, and a companion book, The Eyes of Bayonetta, came out later.