When Bayonetta 3 launched, the reviews were solid — the combat was as flashy as ever, the spectacle was dialed up to eleven, and the series’ signature style was intact. But what really divided the fanbase wasn’t the gameplay. It was the story, and specifically, that ending. A lot of players walked away convinced: Jeene was dead, Viola was the new lead, and a new era had begun.
Some also felt the multiverse concept came out of nowhere, like it was tacked onto the series at the last minute.
Now series creator Hideki Kamiya has addressed it directly in his new book The World of Hideki Kamiya, saying the confusion falls on him for not communicating clearly — and insisting that Bayonetta 3‘s ending actually implies Jeene is still alive.
Kamiya: The Multiverse Wasn’t Added in the Third Game
One of the biggest points of contention around Bayonetta 3 was the multiverse. The first two games already had dense lore, and then the third one throws parallel worlds and multiple Jeenes at you — a lot of fans just couldn’t follow it.
But Kamiya says this concept has actually been there since the very first Bayonetta. It just wasn’t presented in a way that made players aware of it.
He points out that when the young Cereza gets sent back in time after the fight with Balder in the first game, that moment actually splits the timeline. Later, when Jeene returns to the present and encounters Luka, there’s a subtle double-blur effect in the background — which he says is meant to represent two universes overlapping.
His point: you’ve seen the multiverse before. You just didn’t notice it.
Fans Are Divided, But at Least the Door Is Open
The community reaction has been exactly what you’d expect. Some fans are happy to finally get clarification from the source — if Kamiya himself is saying Jeene is alive, that’s about as definitive as it gets. Others are less convinced, pointing out that this explanation only works if you already know to look for these details.
Whether you buy it or not, one thing is clear: Bayonetta 3‘s ending was always meant to leave room for interpretation. And now we at least know where the creator stands.