Following the announcement of an Ōkami sequel at The Game Awards, fan speculation immediately centered on Capcom's RE Engine powering the game, given Capcom's return as publisher. IGN can exclusively confirm this, based on interviews with key project leads.
In a comprehensive interview, Machine Head Works producer Kiyohiko Sakata confirmed the use of RE Engine. Regarding Machine Head Works' role, Sakata explained: "Machine Head Works, collaborating with Capcom and Clover, acts as a bridge. Capcom, as IP holder, sets the overall direction. Clover leads development. Our prior experience with Capcom on multiple titles, understanding their needs, and our history with Kamiya-san, provides valuable insight. We also possess RE Engine expertise, crucial since Clover lacks this experience. Furthermore, our team includes members who worked on the original Ōkami, offering additional support."
When asked about RE Engine's appeal and its benefits for an Ōkami sequel, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi succinctly replied, "Yes," elaborating: "While details are limited, Capcom believes realizing Kamiya-san's artistic vision for this project wouldn't be possible without RE Engine." Kamiya added, "RE Engine is renowned for showcasing a game's best qualities with exceptional expressiveness. We believe this level of quality is expected and anticipated for this game."
Sakata further hinted at RE Engine's potential, suggesting it might allow the team to achieve aspects of the original Ōkami's vision that were previously unattainable. "With today's technology and RE Engine, we can achieve what we strived for then, and perhaps even surpass it," he stated.
RE Engine, Capcom's proprietary engine (Reach for the Moon Engine), debuted with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Since then, it's powered major titles like the Resident Evil series, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, and Dragon's Dogma. While most RE Engine games feature a realistic art style, the prospect of its application to Ōkami's distinctive aesthetic is intriguing. Capcom's development of the successor engine, REX, with its gradual integration into RE Engine, may even contribute elements to the Ōkami sequel.
A full Q&A from our interview with the Ōkami sequel's leads is available here.
