Ōkami 2: RE Engine Confirmed

Following the exciting Ōkami sequel announcement at last year's Game Awards, fan speculation immediately centered on Capcom's RE Engine powering the development, given their 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 primary IP holder, sets the overall direction. Clover Studios leads development. Machine Head Works bridges the gap, leveraging our experience working with Capcom on various titles, understanding their needs. We also have prior experience with Kamiya-san. Essentially, we act as a liaison between Clover and Capcom. Furthermore, our team's familiarity with RE Engine is invaluable, as Clover Studios lacks this experience. We also have staff with experience on the original Ōkami, contributing to this sequel's development.

When asked about RE Engine's appeal and its benefits for an Ōkami sequel, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi simply replied, "Yes," elaborating:

We can't delve into specifics yet. However, 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 its exceptional visual fidelity and expressive capabilities. We believe fans anticipate this level of quality for the Ōkami sequel.

Sakata further highlighted RE Engine's potential, suggesting it allows the team to realize aspects of the original Ōkami's vision that were previously unattainable:

Today's technology, coupled with RE Engine, enables us to achieve our original goals and potentially surpass them.

RE Engine, Capcom's proprietary engine (Reach for the Moon Engine), debuted with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and has since 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, its application to Ōkami's unique aesthetic is intriguing. Capcom's new REX engine is gradually being integrated into RE Engine, potentially influencing the Ōkami sequel.

The full Q&A with the Ōkami sequel's development leads is available for further details.