Capcom is looking to make greater use of its extensive catalogue of established franchises following the strong performance of Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The company has indicated that it intends to bring more long-dormant intellectual properties back into active development as it seeks to build on recent successes.
The strategy comes as Capcom continues to benefit from a strong run of releases, including Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata. Onimusha: Way of the Sword has added momentum, selling more than one million copies on release day and marking the series’ return to the mainline spotlight after nearly two decades.
Capcom looks to its back catalogue for new opportunities
Capcom outlined its plans in a press release celebrating Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s sales performance. The publisher said it wants to pair major new releases with efforts to revive properties that haven’t received a new instalment in a long time.
“In addition to regularly releasing major new titles each year, Capcom is focusing on re-activating IPs that haven’t had a new title launch recently,” the company said. “The company is working to further maximise corporate value by leveraging its rich library of content, including this title.”
The approach reflects the value that established franchises can provide to publishers. While creating original intellectual property remains an important part of the games industry, recognisable series can give companies an existing audience, established characters, and a history they can use to build interest around a new release.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is particularly notable because it represents the first new mainline Onimusha game since Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams was released in 2006. The revival suggests Capcom is willing to return to franchises that have spent many years outside the spotlight when the right opportunity arises.
The company has already demonstrated this approach with other properties. An Okami sequel is in development, while Mega Man: Dual Override is also part of Capcom’s plans for its long-running franchises. The publisher’s latest comments suggest those projects may be part of a wider effort rather than isolated revivals.
Dino Crisis and other dormant series could return
One of the most obvious comeback candidates is Dino Crisis. The survival horror series has not received a new instalment since Dino Crisis 3 in 2003, leaving fans waiting for a continuation for more than two decades.
Capcom has recently taken several steps that have brought renewed attention to the franchise. The first two Dino Crisis games were made available together last year, followed by their arrival on Steam in February. Dino Crisis 2 is also scheduled to join the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue later this year.
Those releases do not confirm that a new Dino Crisis game is in development. However, making older entries more accessible can help introduce classic games to a new audience while reminding existing fans of the series. This activity can also renew interest in a franchise before a potential new project is announced.
Dead Rising is another possibility after Capcom released a remake of the original game. The updated version gave the publisher a chance to revisit the series while keeping the basic premise that made the original a recognised name in Capcom’s catalogue.
Lost Planet is another dormant property that could potentially benefit from a return. The most recent mainline entry, Lost Planet 3, was released in 2013, meaning the series has been inactive for more than a decade. A revival would be less predictable than some of Capcom’s other potential projects, but the franchise remains part of the company’s broader library.
Devil May Cry and Ace Attorney stand out
Two of Capcom’s most established series appear particularly well positioned for future entries: Devil May Cry and Ace Attorney. Both have large existing audiences and have been absent from the market for several years, making them strong candidates if Capcom continues expanding its revival strategy.
Devil May Cry has not received a new mainline instalment since Devil May Cry 5 in 2019. That game was a major success and helped reinforce the series’ position among Capcom’s leading properties. With 41 million copies sold across the franchise, Devil May Cry ranks as Capcom’s fifth best-selling intellectual property, behind Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter and Mega Man.
A new Devil May Cry game could therefore offer Capcom a relatively low-risk opportunity to build on an established audience. The company has not confirmed such a project, and its comments about dormant franchises do not identify which properties it is currently considering for new releases.
Ace Attorney is another major franchise that has been waiting for a fresh entry. The last new mainline Ace Attorney title was released around a decade ago, although Capcom has continued to support the series through collections and other releases. The franchise has sold 15 million copies, showing it has a substantial audience despite long gaps between mainline entries.
Capcom’s decision to highlight the value of its existing intellectual property suggests that more announcements could eventually follow. The success of Onimusha: Way of the Sword gives the publisher evidence that older franchises can attract both returning players and new audiences when given modern treatments.
For now, Capcom has not revealed which dormant properties will receive new games next. However, with several established franchises already being revisited and the company explicitly discussing the reactivation of older IP, series such as Dino Crisis, Devil May Cry, Ace Attorney, Dead Rising and Lost Planet are likely to remain subjects of speculation among fans.
