Ex-Bethesda Director Ikumi Nakamura Is Opening A New Game Studio


Ikumi Nakamura, formerly of Bethesda, is opening a new indie studio to work on an original IP.

As part of a new documentary from GameSpark and Archipel (available below, thanks IGN), Nakamura reveals that she left Tango Gameworks (now owned by Microsoft) due to health issues.

"I started wondering whether there wasn't a way for me to make games while feeling better," she explains. "I took the decision to quit before it was too late."

E3 2019 Star Ikumi Nakamura Is Opening A New Game Studio

Check out the video below:

Speaking in the documentary, Nakamura explains that she "decided to use that experience to open my own small studio and build my IP."

She also notes that she wanted to build a diverse team following messages of support from women "happy to see a female game creator getting on stage and showing her game" at Bethesda's E3 conference in 2019.

As for what she's working on, Nakamura notes that the new IP is "full of dark jokes".

Her most recent project before leaving Tango Gameworks was Ghostwire Tokyo, which is expected to launch on PS5 this year.

Aside from the formation of her studio, Nakamura has also been involved in the creation of new skins for Rainbow Six Siege's sixth year. Find out more here.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Gaming News page.