Capcom's Revival of Classic IPs Continues: Okami and Onimusha Lead the Charge
Capcom has confirmed its ongoing commitment to revitalizing its classic intellectual properties (IPs), with the Okami and Onimusha franchises spearheading this initiative. This article delves into Capcom's plans and explores potential candidates for future revivals.
Capcom's Strategy for IP Revival
In a December 13th press release announcing new entries in the Onimusha and Okami series, Capcom explicitly stated its intention to continue developing titles based on its back catalog. The new Onimusha game, set in Edo-period Kyoto, is slated for a 2026 release. A new Okami sequel is also in development, helmed by the original game's director and team, although a release date remains undisclosed.
Capcom's statement emphasized a focus on "re-activating dormant IPs," leveraging its extensive library to create high-quality, efficient titles. This strategy complements the company's continued development of new IPs, as evidenced by recent releases like Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and Exoprimal, alongside upcoming titles Monster Hunter Wilds and Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (both scheduled for 2025).
Fan Input and Future Titles: The "Super Elections"
Capcom's February 2024 "Super Elections," a fan poll to gauge interest in character revivals and sequels, offers valuable insight into potential future projects. The results highlighted significant demand for sequels and remakes of franchises including Dino Crisis, Darkstalkers, Onimusha, and Breath of Fire. While Capcom hasn't explicitly confirmed which IPs will be revived next, the "Super Elections" data strongly suggests these dormant franchises are prime candidates for future development. The fact that Onimusha and Okami were also highly voted for further reinforces this strategy.
The long dormancy of titles like Dino Crisis (last installment: 1997) and Darkstalkers (last installment: 2003), along with the short lifespan of Breath of Fire 6 (2016-2017), underscores the potential for these franchises to be rebooted or receive sequels. While Capcom remains discreet about its future plans, the "Super Elections" provide a strong indication of which classic IPs may soon be making a comeback.
