Ōkami 2 Is Being Made in RE Engine, Confirmed

Following the sequel announcement of the beloved Ōkami at last year's Game Awards, fan speculation immediately centered on Capcom's use of the RE Engine, given their role 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' involvement, Sakata explained their role as a bridge between Capcom (IP holder and director of the game's overall vision) and Clover (lead developer):

Machine Head Works' involvement stems from our prior collaborations with Capcom on multiple titles. We understand Capcom's requirements for game development. We also have experience working with Kamiya-san. Essentially, we bridge the gap between Clovers and Capcom. Furthermore, our team possesses extensive experience with the RE Engine, unlike Clovers' developers. We're providing them with crucial support. We also have team members with experience on the original Ōkami, further assisting development.

When asked about the appeal of RE Engine and its benefits for an Ōkami sequel, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi offered a concise "Yes," elaborating:

We at Capcom believe that without RE Engine, we wouldn't be able to realize director Hideki Kamiya-san's artistic vision for this project.

Kamiya added:

RE Engine is renowned for its exceptional graphical capabilities and expressive power. We believe fans anticipate this level of quality.

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 what we aspired to in the past, and perhaps even surpass those goals.

RE Engine, or Reach for the Moon Engine, Capcom's proprietary engine initially developed for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, has powered many of their major titles, including 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 unique aesthetic is intriguing. Capcom's development of a successor engine, REX, with gradual integration into RE Engine, suggests the Ōkami sequel may incorporate some of its advancements.

A complete Q&A from our interview with the Ōkami sequel leads is available here.