Following the announcement of an Ōkami sequel at The Game Awards, fan speculation immediately centered on Capcom's RE Engine powering the game, given their 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 working with Capcom on multiple titles provides crucial understanding of their needs. We also have experience working with Kamiya-san. Therefore, we bridge Clover and Capcom. Furthermore, we possess RE Engine expertise, something Clover lacks. We're assisting them. Our team also includes members with experience on the original Ōkami, further aiding development."
When asked about RE Engine's appeal and its unique benefits for an Ōkami sequel, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi simply stated, "Yes," before elaborating: "We can't divulge details yet. However, 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 the best in games, offering exceptional expressive capabilities. We believe this level of quality is what people expect and anticipate."
Later, Sakata hinted at RE Engine's potential to achieve aspects initially unattainable in the first Ōkami: "With today's technology, and RE Engine, we can achieve—and perhaps surpass—what we aimed for back then."
RE Engine, or Reach for the Moon Engine, Capcom's proprietary engine initially developed for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, has powered many major titles, including the Resident Evil series, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, and Dragon's Dogma. While most RE Engine games feature a realistic art style, its application to Ōkami's distinct aesthetic is intriguing. Capcom's development of the REX engine, a successor gradually integrating into RE Engine, suggests some REX elements might also appear in the Ōkami sequel.
The full Q&A from our interview with the Ōkami sequel's leads is available here.
