Following the announcement of a highly anticipated 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 speculation after interviewing 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, collaborating with Capcom and Clover, acts as a bridge. Capcom, as the major IP holder, sets the overall direction. Clover leads development. Our experience working with Capcom on various titles, understanding their needs, and our prior collaboration with Kamiya-san, makes us uniquely positioned. We also possess extensive RE Engine experience, crucial since Clover's developers lack such experience. Furthermore, our team includes individuals who worked on the original Ōkami, providing invaluable support for this sequel."
When asked about RE Engine's appeal and its unique benefits for an Ōkami sequel, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi succinctly replied, "Yes." He elaborated: "While specifics are premature, Capcom believes that without RE Engine, director Hideki Kamiya's artistic vision for this project wouldn't be achievable."
Kamiya added: "RE Engine is renowned for showcasing the best in game visuals. Its expressive capabilities are exceptional, and we believe fans anticipate this level of quality."
Later, Sakata hinted at RE Engine's potential to realize aspects of the original Ōkami's vision that were previously unattainable. "Today's technology, coupled with RE Engine, allows us to achieve what we previously strived for, and perhaps even surpass it," he stated.
RE Engine, short for Reach for the Moon Engine, Capcom's proprietary 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 many RE Engine games feature realistic art styles, the prospect of its application to Ōkami's distinctive aesthetic is exciting. Capcom's development of a successor engine, REX, with gradual integration into RE Engine, suggests the Ōkami sequel might incorporate some of REX's technology.
The complete Q&A from our interview with the Ōkami sequel's leads is available here.
