Following last year's Game Awards announcement of an Ōkami sequel, 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 an extensive interview, Machine Head Works producer Kiyohiko Sakata confirmed the use of RE Engine. Regarding Machine Head Works' role, Sakata explained:
Machine Head Works collaborates with Capcom and Clover Studios. Capcom, as the major IP holder, sets the overall direction. Clover Studios leads development. Machine Head Works bridges the gap, leveraging our experience working with Capcom on numerous titles, understanding their needs. We also have prior experience with Kamiya-san. We act as a liaison, bridging Clover Studios and Capcom. Furthermore, our team possesses RE Engine expertise, a skillset lacking within Clover Studios' developers. We're providing crucial support. Our team also includes individuals who worked on the original Ōkami, further aiding development.
Regarding the appeal of RE Engine and its benefits for an Ōkami sequel, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi succinctly replied, "Yes." He elaborated: "We can't divulge specifics yet, but Capcom believes realizing director Hideki Kamiya's artistic vision for this project would be impossible without RE Engine."
Kamiya added: "RE Engine is renowned for its exceptional visual fidelity and expressive capabilities. We believe fans anticipate and deserve that level of quality."
Sakata later hinted that RE Engine might allow the team to achieve goals unattainable with the original Ōkami. "Today's technology, coupled with RE Engine, enables us to realize our past ambitions and potentially surpass them," he stated.
RE Engine (Reach for the Moon Engine), Capcom's proprietary engine initially developed for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, has powered many major Capcom titles, including the Resident Evil series, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, and Dragon's Dogma. Most RE Engine games feature a realistic art style, making its application to Ōkami's unique aesthetic particularly intriguing. Capcom's development of the REX engine, a successor to RE Engine, with gradual integration into the existing RE Engine, suggests the Ōkami sequel may incorporate some REX elements.
For a complete account of our interview with the Ōkami sequel's leads, please refer to the full Q&A.
