Capcom explained why the new Onimusha will be released only after 20 years

Director Satoru Nihei said that the return of Onimusha had to wait almost 20 years not because of a lack of desire from Capcom, but due to a shortage of available developers.

The return of the Onimusha series had to wait almost 20 years, but it wasn't due to a lack of interest from Capcom. As Onimusha: Way of the Sword director Satoru Nihei explained in an interview, the company was unable to assemble a development team for a long time.

According to him, creating modern games requires more and more resources. Capcom's main efforts were focused on Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, and other projects. There was a desire to revive Onimusha within the company, but there weren't enough available developers.

The situation changed after a major restructuring of Capcom and the emergence of the RE Engine. The use of their own engine allowed for faster development, especially in graphics, which made it possible to form a team for the new installment.

The creators promise to retain the key elements of the series: the Issen mechanic with precise counterattacks, the Oni Gauntlet, soul absorption, and the combination of Japanese history with dark fantasy.

After the demo's release, some players criticized the overly passive enemies. However, producer Akihito Kadowaki assured that the full version would have a higher difficulty.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to release on September 4, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.