Capcom is finally bringing back Onimusha after two decades—and it’s not due to a lack of interest in the iconic series. In new interviews, director Satoru Nihei and producer Akihito Kadowaki revealed why the studio delayed reviving the samurai action game for so long, how the RE Engine and internal restructuring helped assemble the team, and explained what gameplay changes will be made—and whether we should expect the same difficulty fans have been yearning for for 20 years.
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Why Capcom Delayed Onimusha for 20 Years
The most common question is:
“Why did not they make a new game?” It all came down to resources.
Capcom, like any major publisher, is forced to prioritize, and for the past two decades, its biggest hits—Resident Evil and Monster Hunter—have outpaced other projects in terms of schedule and budget. According to Nihei, each new installment in these franchises required more people and time, and the studio physically could not dedicate a dedicated combat team to Onimusha. The situation changed dramatically only in 2020. That’s when the RE Engine, which Capcom had been developing since the mid-2010s, reached a point of maturity where it could be used broadly across all genres, from horror to action. This engine sped up production, allowed for the reuse of developments between projects, and, more importantly, freed up engineers for new experiments.
At the same time, Capcom carried out an internal restructuring: flagship series no longer “cannibalized” everyone else. In early 2020, the studio was staffed with a team of approximately 170 people, given carte blanche to revive the brand. Nihei emphasizes: “We were waiting for the right moment—when both the technology and the people were ready. That moment has arrived.”
How RE Engine and Restructuring Saved Onimusha
The transition to the RE Engine was not the only factor. Capcom reconsidered its production model: major games are now developed in parallel, rather than sequentially. Previously, for example, the Resident Evil team would keep all its programmers busy for two or three years, leaving other projects unattended. Now, the divisions operate autonomously, and shared technologies—the same engine and assets—are available to everyone.
This allowed Onimusha: Way of the Sword to launch just as Monster Hunter Wilds and the new Resident Evil Requiem had already been released or were in the final stages of development. Essentially, Capcom found a window between major releases to squeeze in another blockbuster. This approach is the result of years of timeline management, and it appears the company is now adept at equipping multiple teams simultaneously without wasting resources.
Combat System and Issen Mechanics in Way of the Sword
The heart of every Onimusha was the Issen system—a counterattack that required a precise sense of timing. In Way of the Sword, this mechanic received a new interpretation while maintaining its core. Break Issen was introduced—a new move that can be activated even in the midst of an enemy attack, dealing additional damage in exchange for an Oni meter. However, the classic Issen remains, and it remains the primary tool for masters.
An important innovation: the protagonist, the legendary Miyamoto Musashi, now wields only one katana, instead of switching weapons as in the earlier games. However, at certain moments, he can use the power of the Oni to temporarily intercept enemy blades or perform special moves. This is a tribute to the original trilogy, but with a modern rhythm. Judging by the press releases, the combat system has become more dynamic, but retains the same “samurai precision” for which the series is beloved. And if you were expecting Issen to turn into a quick-time event, nope—everything remains challenging and risky.
Onimusha Demo Difficulty and Developers Response
The demo, released on all target platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2), was downloaded over 1 million times—and immediately sparked controversy. Many players noticed that the enemies behave passively, and that Issen is not necessary—you can hack them all to pieces with regular attacks. This raised concerns that the ending would be too easy.
Producer Akihito Kadowaki quickly responded in an interview: “The demo is intentionally simplified so players can familiarize themselves with the mechanics. The full game will have a higher difficulty—we have two modes at launch: Story and Action. In Action, the enemies are more vicious, and the timings are stricter in Issen. We have taken the feedback into account and are already fine-tuning the balance.”
By the way, many people tested not only the combat but also the graphics on the Switch 2 during the demo—and the polished textures and stable 60 FPS in handheld mode were a pleasant surprise.
Onimusha Way of the Sword Release Date and Platforms
The release was originally scheduled for September 25th, but Capcom moved the date to September 4th, 2026—three weeks earlier, without explanation. The game will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store), and, for the first time in the series, the Nintendo Switch 2.
Three editions are available:
Pre-orders are now open. The main campaign is approximately 20 hours long, with a self-contained storyline that does not require knowledge of previous games.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of classic Onimusha, do not hesitate to check it out. The developers have retained the core elements (Issen, soul absorption, and a dark setting), but modernized the combat and technical aspects. The demo issues will be addressed by release—Capcom has already proven this with previous titles. The series return was not due to nostalgia, but to a sound strategy and technological advancement. Now it is just a couple of months away.
