Capcom Could Not Assemble an Onimusha Team for 20 Years

Onimusha remained dormant for 20 years not because Capcom had lost interest in the franchise, but because larger series such as Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter continuously absorbed the developers required to produce another major entry.

Speaking with Game Informer, Onimusha: Way of the Sword producer Akihito Kadowaki explained that Capcom had wanted to revive the supernatural samurai series for years. However, modern game development demanded increasingly large teams, longer production schedules, and more specialized talent, making it difficult to assemble the necessary staff while Capcom focused on its biggest franchises and emerging projects.

"It was very difficult to get a team together to make a new Onimusha game."
— Quote by: Akihito Kadowaki

The opportunity finally arrived during Capcom’s internal planning reset in 2020, when the company began organizing its projects for the current generation of consoles. The maturity of the RE Engine also gave developers a shared technical foundation capable of supporting a modern Onimusha production without requiring the studio to create an entirely separate technology pipeline. Development of Way of the Sword has now continued for approximately 6 years.

Director Satoru Nihei, who is leading a project for the first time, said development began by identifying the elements that made the original games distinctive. The most important was Issen, the demanding counterattack mechanic that rewards players for striking immediately before an enemy attack connects. Capcom also retained the Oni Gauntlet, soul absorption, tactical ability management, historical Japanese influences, and the combination of dark fantasy with real locations and folklore.

Rather than copying the structure of modern action games, Capcom wants Way of the Sword to preserve the deliberate timing and supernatural sword combat that defined the original series. The new entry follows a fictionalized Miyamoto Musashi through an Edo period version of Kyoto corrupted by Malice and invaded by the demonic Genma.

The playable demo has already given players access to mechanics including parrying, deflection, Issen attacks, Oni abilities, and soul absorption. However, some players criticized its low difficulty and passive enemies, arguing that regular attacks were often sufficient and that the limited resistance reduced the importance of mastering Issen.

Producer Akihito Kadowaki responded by explaining that the demo was designed to showcase Musashi’s wider combat toolkit and included abilities normally unlocked later in the game. Capcom says bosses and regular Genma will provide a greater challenge in the complete release.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is scheduled to launch on September 4, 2026, after Capcom moved the release forward from its previously announced September 25 date. The game will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

The 20 year absence of Onimusha demonstrates the difficult decisions publishers face when successful franchises begin demanding larger development teams. Capcom did not necessarily abandon Onimusha. It prioritized the brands capable of delivering the largest and most predictable commercial returns.

The RE Engine appears to have changed that calculation by reducing the technical barriers involved in launching another large production. Capcom can now share tools, workflows, knowledge, and engineering resources across Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Pragmata, and Onimusha without building every project from the ground up.

Way of the Sword must now prove that reviving the name is not enough. Its Issen combat needs enemies that demand precision, patience, and mechanical understanding. Capcom has successfully rebuilt several classic franchises, but Onimusha will require the right balance between modern accessibility and the dangerous timing based combat that originally gave the series its identity.

Should Capcom revive more dormant franchises, or continue prioritizing Resident Evil and Monster Hunter?