Capcom: "We'd prefer a game that got a 9 and sold less, than a 6 but sold more." Publisher on its fear over Resident Evil 2's E3 reveal, the Monster Hunter gamble and new IP

Christopher Dring Head of Games B2B Monday 6th August 2018 Share this article Share

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How would you remake Resident Evil 2?

Fans have been clamouring for a new version of RE2 since the first game was recreated on the GameCube in 2002. Back then, Resident Evil was known for its fixed camera angles to heighten the tension, and clunky controls (called Tank Controls) that made combat particularly never-wracking.

A few years later, in 2005, Capcom decided to change things up with Resident Evil 4, which moved the camera to an over-the-shoulder view and delivered controls in-line with traditional third-person shooters. And last year the developer changed things again with the impressive Resident Evil 7, switching the view to first-person.

"Before E3, we were worried that the fanbase would be divided over Resident Evil 2" Antoine Molant, Capcom

So, considering all that, which style do you pick when remaking one of the originals?

"We had discussions on whether we could make a game that was everything for everyone," says Capcom Europe COO Stuart Turner. "For those guys who want tank controls and want fixed cameras... can we do that?

"But the world has moved on and these players have changed. And if we did [introduce old school mechanics], these fans might play it and actually decide it's not what they wanted after all. But we played around with a few things in development. We did try first-person, we did try fixed camera. But the way the game has been designed, we decided that a third-person view works better."

The decision may have been made for creative reasons, but Capcom was still nervous ahead of the game's official E3 unveiling.

"That was probably the main worry, or question mark, that we had," explains EMEA marketing director Antoine Molant. "We knew there were expectations around the game, and we knew it looked great and would be a good game. But around the point of the tank controls and fixed cameras, we were worried that the fanbase would be divided. But, although there might have been some initial dissenting voices, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive."

Turner adds: "We were concerned internally about who RE2 would appeal to. With RE7 we had done this first-person thing, and with RE2 we've done this thing that looks great, but it's also back a step. So the response to that, the pre-orders we've seen already... we have been a little taken aback by how well it has gone down."

Resident Evil 2 is not a typical Capcom remaster. The firm decided against suffixing the word 'Remake' to the title because it's positioning this as a major launch akin to Resident Evil 7. The game was actually in development at the same time as 7, which means there are now two teams working on mainline Resident Evil games.

Yet how does Capcom view the franchise today? After Resident Evil 4 in 2005, the publisher took the series into a more action-orientated direction, which fans were not entirely satisfied with. This came to a head with the disappointing Resident Evil 6.

Resident Evil 7 was a far superior product that took the series back to its horror roots. However, commercially it's lagging behind its predecessors. RE7 has (so far) sold 5.1 million units, while Resident Evil 6 managed 7.1 million.

Fans and critics may see Resident Evil 7 as a comeback, but what about Capcom?

"While we have shareholders to appease, it's not just about commercial performance," explains Turner. "There is an artistic element that always comes in where we know this is the right way. And while if we compare RE7 to RE6 the absolute numbers are not the same, in terms of the profitability... it's completely fine. It ticked all of our boxes internally. It was really well received. And in some respects, getting some very good review scores counts as much for Capcom as a game that sells millions and millions and millions. We'd prefer a game that got a 9 and sold less, than got a 6 but sold more."

"We'd prefer a game that got a 9 and sold less, than got a 6 but sold more." Stuart Turner, Capcom

Molant continues: "We are less focused on Day One sales these days, too. We are looking much more at the long-term. And in that case RE7 is performing amazingly. Even now, after almost two years, it's still the VR flagship title. That helps keep the game selling well."

Resident Evil 2 is set to arrive during the last week in January, a release slot that's been a favourite amongst Capcom's senior team for several years now.

"We even have internal meetings where we have a game that is penciled in for a certain window, and we then stop, think and just go: 'Let's put it in that January slot'," Turner says. "People seem to have cottoned onto it now. Whereas everything used to come just before Christmas, you are starting to see a lot more quality titles coming during the first quarter.

"We know our titles and our audience, and we know the appeal we have, and we also know what our competitors try and do. We're not going to stand up to those companies dropping tens of millions on marketing. We are, in some respects, a boutique publisher, and that January window fits with us."

Molant: "Oh boutique. I'm going to use that." [Laughs]

Turner again: "There are rewards that can come in launching before Christmas, but that also comes with inherent risks. And culturally, you could say, as a Japanese publisher we like to avoid risk rather than gamble on having a massive success. That's not to say that at some point we won't go: 'Hey, next Monster Hunter, let's make it a Christmas title'. But at the moment January represents low risk and high returns, and now we're starting to see other publishers in there."

Molant again: "At least we're not February 22nd [when Metro Exodus, Days Gone and Anthem are set to launch]"

Resident Evil 2 has a lot to do if it wants to beat Capcom's most recent January hit, Monster Hunter World. After six months, it is already the most successful title the publisher has ever released.

"In my 12 years of being here, the drum has been banged that Monster Hunter could sell easily in the West if it was on the right platform and if it embraced online gaming," Turner recounts. "It was a big risk for the Japanese developers to go and do something that might cut off their own fanbase. They were guaranteed three or four million sales in Japan. For a risk-averse Japanese company, that's a great big gamble. Having said that, Japan bought the game in its millions."

Molant adds: "The risk was mitigated by Sony's support, and Sony Japan in particular, who felt Monster Hunter coming to home consoles was going to sell some PS4s... and they were right."

Back to Turner: "The Japanese market is very interesting. They have a massive Monster Hunter tournament in Japan, which is time-attack based. You wouldn't expect Monster Hunter to be an esports-type thing, but in Japan they've embraced this. So there are still these huge differences, even though it's a game that's popular in both markets now. What we're seeing in Europe is that the co-op play is a much more powerful thing, as opposed to the competitive side, which has really come out in Asia."

"It was a big risk for the Monster Hunter developers to go and do something that might cut off their own fanbase." Stuart Turner, Capcom

The marketing was also very different. Monster Hunter is well known in Japan, whereas the Western audiences needed educating.

"It was almost a new IP in some markets," Turner notes. "Even in some of our more mature European markets, it is still fairly unknown. It has obviously done really well and now the goal is to push on and make it more of a success in the West with the next iterations."

Monster Hunter and Resident Evil are the current crown jewels at Capcom, although there are obviously other titles on its slate. There's Mega Man 11, which Turner says is a brand that's remarkably starting to grow again after being almost dead in Europe for a long time.

And then there's Devil May Cry. The hack-and-slash genre seems to have declined in recent years, and 2013's DmC: Devil May Cry - Capcom's effort to rejuvenate the genre - disappointed the fanbase. With Devil May Cry 5, Capcom has decided to focus on its core players.

"The last game was very good, but there were a few unhappy voices because it wasn't a direct sequel and other things," Molant remembers. "Because of that, the dev team sat down and asked: 'Where do we take that next?' And it was known that the community wanted Devil May Cry 5 to be closer to 1, 2 and 3. And so the project was born.

"We can debate whether that genre has the same appeal as it used to... that's hard to say. The project was born because of what the fans want."

Turner continues: "It's fair to say that we are very focused on the audience and the feedback that we get. We have seen some horrible stories in the media recently about publishers bending to the will of the internet. We wouldn't advocate going that far. But certainly there is an element of fan service that runs throughout the company.

"DMC is an example of that. Fans weren't happy, so therefore we went a different way. It's part of giving back within the remit that we're still a business, we still need it to sell. We want to give things to the fans, we want to support them, but it has to make sense. So we do it within reason. We don't listen to the far extremes of the fanbase, shall we say."

"We are looking into the explosion in affordable digital-only titles. That is how we potentially see new IP being born" Antoine Molant, Capcom

Molant again: "This project would never have been greenlit if it didn't make sense business-wise. We rarely have crazy forecasts on any of our games. DMC 5 will please a fanbase that is still quite big."

All these sequels may seem like (relatively) safe bets, but what about something new? There was a time Capcom was known for experimental new concepts. The days of Viewtiful Joe and Killer 7 and Okami seem a long time ago.

"When we put out our strategy a couple of years ago, we said we were focusing on our core pillars - Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter and others," Turner reminds us. "Some people would point to the cultural thing of risk-avoidance, but we do take risks. RE7 could have gone horribly wrong. And with Monster Hunter World, you're potentially turning your back on a four million domestic market to chase the West."

Molant continues: "We are looking into the explosion in affordable digital-only titles. That is how we potentially see new IP being born, by testing the water with smaller titles that are less risky to develop. Maybe we could release a few of these and see if one takes off, and then you can take it further step-by-step, as opposed to doing a AAA with a £10 million marketing budget. That's never going to happen."

Turner again: "But it's not off the plans to do some new IP. We have titles lined-up. The development team doesn't want to keep working on the same thing over and over. They want to explore other areas. There is also a lot of scope in some of our universes where we can go and do something new, without having to leap into new territory.

"But new IP is certainly still on the radar, and discussed within the development offices at Osaka and Vancouver. It's just difficult to launch successfully in a global market."

Concludes Molant: "Especially as a boutique publisher."