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Bayonetta 3 is going to be one of the biggest Nintendo Switch games of 2022. PlatinumGames’ action-adventure series is truly iconic, and it looks set to return in a pretty spectacular fashion. This time, it looks like the Witch is set to take her demon smashing skillset to the ravaged streets of the Shibuya area of Tokyo when Bayonetta 3 releases this October.
This game has been a long time coming, with Bayonetta 3 revealed all the way back in 2017. Nintendo has now confirmed that PlatinumGames’ ambitious new action game will launch in 2022 as a Switch exclusive, and an ESRB rating has confirmed that we should expect ‘nudity and partial violence’ – which is pretty typical for this series. While we wait to see how that manifests, why not keep reading to find everything we know so far about Bayonetta 3.
Bayonetta 3 release date
Nintendo has confirmed that the Bayonetta 3 release date is set for October 28, 2022. The news was confirmed on July 13, alongside a long-awaited new look at the game in action (opens in new tab). The launch window for Bayonetta 3 was first announced in a Nintendo Direct September 2021 broadcast, and the October 28 date solidifies PlatinumGames’ action game as one of the most anticipated upcoming Switch games of the year.
Bayonetta 3 platforms
Bayonetta 3 is a Nintendo Switch exclusive. The game is being developed by PlatinumGames and is being published by Nintendo, which rules out a release on other platforms such as PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The same was true of 2014’s Bayonetta 2, which Nintendo published on WiiU and later Nintendo Switch; the original Bayonetta game was published by Sega, and subsequently released on PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2009.
Bayonetta 3 teaser trailer
The first Bayonetta 3 teaser trailer was shown at The Game Awards 2017, confirming that the game was in active development three years after the release of Bayonetta 2. While this Bayonetta 3 trailer doesn’t show any gameplay, it does act as a mood piece designed to give us a sense of the sort of outrageous, high-octane action we can expect from the PlatinumGames sequel.
Bayonetta 3 gameplay trailer
We got our first Bayonetta 3 gameplay trailer during a Nintendo Direct September 2021 showcase. In it, PlatinumGames gave us our first look at the Nintendo Switch exclusive in action, teasing new mechanics like the Demon Slave – which lets you control Infernal Demons in the midst of combat. Check out the Bayonetta 3 gameplay trailer above.
Bayonetta 3 gameplay
The Bayonetta 3 gameplay is set to expand upon the systems and mechanics last seen in 2014’s Bayonetta 2 – a frantic action-adventure game, beloved for its spectacular and cinematic combat. Developer PlatinumGames has only given us a glimpse at the Bayonetta 3 gameplay, although we have been able to pick apart the trailers to learn a few new details.
For example, we know that fan-favorite gameplay elements such as Witch Time, Torture Attacks, and Wicked Weaves will be making a return – albeit in an expanded form, with Bayonetta now able to unleash multiple Torture Attacks at once for maximum impact. We also know Bayonetta will get a few new tricks, including Demon Masquerade, which allows the Witch to temporarily assume the form of a demon, and Demon Slave, which expands upon the concept of Climax Summons by allowing you to take control of demons and unleash a swath of intrusive actions.
Bayonetta 3 story
PlatinumGames remains tight lipped about the Bayonetta 3 story, although there are a few details floating around about the enchanting witch’s new adventure. The official Bayonetta 3 website (opens in new tab) describes the plot in broad terms: “Mysterious life forms appearing to be neither angel nor demon attack amid the ravaged streets of the Shibuya area of Tokyo, where Bayonetta then makes a graceful appearance. Why is she in Tokyo? And how far-reaching is the invasion of this new enemy?”
Interesting questions without firm answers. But perhaps we can glean some information by looking back at the events of Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 – spoilers to follow, you have been warned.
If you played the previous games, you’ll know that the ending of Bayonetta 2 sets up a paradox which ultimately sets the first game in motion. It’s a happy note to leave it on though as the loop is closed, despite the inevitable suffering and loss of both of Bayonetta’s parents. It does look like we’ll be playing as the same Bayonetta we’re used to in a similar time-period to previous games in Bayonetta 3 – but then again, the series is no stranger to time travel tomfoolery.
Bayonetta 3 development
Bayonetta 3 is the third entry in the PlatinumGames’ series Bayonetta, which was first introduced to the public in 2009. Spearheaded by Hideki Kamiya, the game takes cues from his previous work like the Devil May Cry series. It’s a hack and slash in a world where angels known as Lumen Sages collide in conflict with Umbra Witches. Bayonetta is a witch with amnesia who fights her wicked way through hordes of enemies in order to save the world, collecting a cast of charming side characters along the way.
The first game received a sequel in 2014’s Bayonetta 2 for the Wii U, which developed the catchy combat, involved some mythological deities and helped build the game’s fan base even further with its stylish art direction and rich characters. Ever since Bayonetta has been lingering in the shadows awaiting a grand return. The first two games were ported to the Nintendo Switch in February of 2018 and a remastered port of Bayonetta landed on PS4 and Xbox One in February 2020, so it’s a great time to get into the series and catch up on the narrative.
Bayonetta 3 was officially announced in 2017, and confirmed to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive in 2019, and the first gameplay trailer was released in 2021. Since then, PlatinumGames has said very little about the game to the public. The last major update came from executive producer Hideki Kamiya shortly after the gameplay trailer was revealed, where he had this to say (opens in new tab):
“Bayonetta 3 is real, and the day when you’ll be able to hold it in your hands and play is definitely coming! Rest easy and look forward to more info to come, because no matter how great your expectations may be, I promise we’ll deliver an experience that exceeds all of them.”
Looking for something else to play while you wait for Bayonetta 3? Why not check out our rankings of the best Switch games, or the complete release schedule for upcoming Nintendo Switch games.
