Capcom’s announcement of a sequel to Ōkami came as a significant surprise last year, particularly since the original was labelled a commercial failure. However, in a recent interview, producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi mentioned that Ōkami’s initial poor sales no longer reflect its current popularity, which prompted the company to consider a sequel for some time.
Hirabayashi spoke to IGN, saying that while Ōkami underperformed when it launched in 2005, various re-releases have led to consistent sales over nearly two decades, adding up to about 4.6 million units across all versions. “I specifically know people are still enjoying this game, just from the numbers. Normally when we look at games, the sales sort of slow down and they decrease steadily,” he stated. “But for Ōkami, we see a steady flow of players who continue enjoying the game. In that way, Ōkami is an exceptionally unique IP.”
Capcom has been vigilant in seeking to develop an Ōkami sequel, yet Hirabayashi noted the need for key team members to be available before formally moving ahead with the concept. By ‘key people’, he was referring specifically to the original director Hideki Kamiya, who has recently been occupied with projects at PlatinumGames, among other Ōkami veterans now with Machine Head Works. Given the scattering of Ōkami’s original talent, Hirabayashi commented that “it took some time for all the stars to align.”
Kamiya echoed this sentiment, feeling driven to pursue an Ōkami sequel, motivated by the enduring interest expressed by fans. “Hearing the enthusiasm from the fans inspired me,” he told IGN. “Without everyone cheering us on, we would not have pushed forward. Thank you very much.”
Ōkami arrived on PC in HD format in 2017, after a long wait. Former Edge deputy editor Chris Schilling praised the game for its engaging storytelling approach, stating: “There’s something about how Ōkami involves you in the story—casting you as an artist retelling a fable with your brush—that feels rather magical. There’s a sense of wonder in even the simplest tasks, whether it’s creating stars to complete constellations or tracing a line to guide Amaterasu upwards.”
