Keita Takahashi, the creator of the iconic game Katamari Damacy, recently shared his reasons for leaving Bandai Namco in 2006. In an interview, Takahashi explained that he wanted to expand his creative horizons and collaborate with developers from different countries. I left the company because I didn’t want to be limited to only working with the people there,” Takahashi said.
I wondered why I was only making games with Japanese people. I thought that if I could develop games with more people from other countries, I would get ideas from different perspectives.
Takahashi is working on a new game called “To a T” at his studio, Uvula. The game explores themes of disability and everyday challenges, with the main character facing bullying at school.
Leaving Bandai Namco: Takahashi’s new journey
Despite having a global team, Takahashi admitted that certain cultural elements in the game are distinctly Japanese. “I don’t know what school culture is like in the US, so I had no choice but to use Japanese elements,” he explained.
American schools don’t have the custom of changing shoes like Japanese schools do.
Takahashi drew from his own experiences when addressing the theme of bullying in “To a T.” He revealed, “I was actually bullied myself and never felt like going to school.”
When asked about his target audience, Takahashi stated that he creates games that he feels satisfied with rather than catering to a specific demographic. “I’d like people to play them if they want to. I guess I should probably make games while thinking about the target audience, but I’ll work on that in my next life,” he said jokingly.
“To a T” will be released on May 28, 2025, with the Steam version following on May 29. Fans of Takahashi’s work can look forward to another unique and creative gaming experience from the mind behind Katamari Damacy and Wattam.
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