Hideki Kamiya, the director behind the original Resident Evil 2 and a co-founder of PlatinumGames, has publicly urged Capcom to consider optional non-horror modes for the Resident Evil series.
In a recent interview with VGC, Kamiya said that while he remains curious about new entries in the franchise, he often cannot play them because the horror elements are too intense for him.
Background and context
Resident Evil is Capcom’s flagship survival horror franchise, first launched in 1996 on the original PlayStation.
Hideki Kamiya directed Resident Evil 2 (1998), a title widely regarded as a landmark in the survival horror genre.
Kamiya later left Capcom and helped found PlatinumGames, where he directed action franchises such as Devil May Cry and Bayonetta—titles that have since appeared on Nintendo platforms including the Nintendo Switch.
Kamiya’s comments, paraphrased in journalistic terms, make two main points: he finds contemporary Resident Evil releases genuinely frightening to the point of being unplayable for him, and he believes development teams at Capcom may underestimate how intense their horror design feels to some players.
He told VGC that he has privately told members of Resident Evil teams that their games are "way too scary," and that those teams often respond by downplaying that reaction.
As a result, Kamiya said he hopes Capcom will add options that reduce horror intensity so more players can experience the games.
On accessibility and optional modes
Kamiya suggested a practical approach: keep the full horror experience intact for players who want it, but provide a toggled alternative that tones down jarring visuals and scares.
He described the idea playfully—visuals such as zombies with "paper bags on their heads" or dim rooms equipped with more pleasant lighting—but framed it as an accessibility-minded suggestion that would broaden the series’ reach.
This follows a broader industry trend toward optional content tuning and accessibility options that help more players enjoy major releases.
Bayonetta, a PlatinumGames franchise closely associated with Kamiya, has appeared on Nintendo Switch and other platforms and has offered a variety of difficulty and assist options across its releases; Kamiya referenced such systems when discussing possible solutions for Resident Evil.
What this means for Capcom and players
Capcom has maintained Resident Evil as a core pillar of its catalog across generations and platforms, and the franchise continues to attract large audiences.
Kamiya’s remarks were candid and come from a veteran creator with direct ties to Resident Evil’s history.
If Capcom chooses to adopt optional non-horror or accessibility modes, it would align the series with a growing expectation that major publishers provide more ways for diverse players to experience their titles—whether on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or hardware such as the Nintendo Switch and via storefronts like the eShop when applicable.
Kamiya also noted that despite receiving review or preview codes from Capcom for new Resident Evil entries, he frequently declines to play them because of the intensity of the horror content.
His call is not to dilute the series for fans who want fear intact, but to add optional tools that make the games accessible to a wider audience.
In a recent interview with VGC, Kamiya said that while he remains curious about new entries in the franchise, he often cannot play them because the horror elements are too intense for him.
Background and context
Resident Evil is Capcom’s flagship survival horror franchise, first launched in 1996 on the original PlayStation.
Hideki Kamiya directed Resident Evil 2 (1998), a title widely regarded as a landmark in the survival horror genre.
Kamiya later left Capcom and helped found PlatinumGames, where he directed action franchises such as Devil May Cry and Bayonetta—titles that have since appeared on Nintendo platforms including the Nintendo Switch.
Kamiya’s comments, paraphrased in journalistic terms, make two main points: he finds contemporary Resident Evil releases genuinely frightening to the point of being unplayable for him, and he believes development teams at Capcom may underestimate how intense their horror design feels to some players.
He told VGC that he has privately told members of Resident Evil teams that their games are "way too scary," and that those teams often respond by downplaying that reaction.
As a result, Kamiya said he hopes Capcom will add options that reduce horror intensity so more players can experience the games.
On accessibility and optional modes
Kamiya suggested a practical approach: keep the full horror experience intact for players who want it, but provide a toggled alternative that tones down jarring visuals and scares.
He described the idea playfully—visuals such as zombies with "paper bags on their heads" or dim rooms equipped with more pleasant lighting—but framed it as an accessibility-minded suggestion that would broaden the series’ reach.
This follows a broader industry trend toward optional content tuning and accessibility options that help more players enjoy major releases.
Bayonetta, a PlatinumGames franchise closely associated with Kamiya, has appeared on Nintendo Switch and other platforms and has offered a variety of difficulty and assist options across its releases; Kamiya referenced such systems when discussing possible solutions for Resident Evil.
What this means for Capcom and players
Capcom has maintained Resident Evil as a core pillar of its catalog across generations and platforms, and the franchise continues to attract large audiences.
Kamiya’s remarks were candid and come from a veteran creator with direct ties to Resident Evil’s history.
If Capcom chooses to adopt optional non-horror or accessibility modes, it would align the series with a growing expectation that major publishers provide more ways for diverse players to experience their titles—whether on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or hardware such as the Nintendo Switch and via storefronts like the eShop when applicable.
Kamiya also noted that despite receiving review or preview codes from Capcom for new Resident Evil entries, he frequently declines to play them because of the intensity of the horror content.
His call is not to dilute the series for fans who want fear intact, but to add optional tools that make the games accessible to a wider audience.
