Ōkami 2: Direct Sequel in Early Development

The announcement of a sequel to the beloved adventure game Ōkami at last year's The Game Awards sparked immense excitement among fans. Despite the initial fanfare, details about the new game have remained scarce. However, a recent interview with the project leads conducted by IGN shed a bit more light on what fans can expect. Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi confirmed that the "Ōkami sequel" will indeed be a direct continuation of the story from the original game. When asked if the great god Amaterasu featured in the trailer shown at The Game Awards, director Hideki Kamiya playfully responded with "I wonder...", only for Hirabayashi to confirm Amaterasu's presence moments later.

While this confirmation might not surprise fans, there has been considerable speculation on how the sequel would address the legacy of Ōkami, especially considering the existence of Ōkamiden. Released for the Nintendo DS, Ōkamiden follows Amaterasu's child, Chibiterasu, and features familiar characters from the original game. However, it received mixed reviews, partly due to its platform and the absence of key original team members like Kamiya. When questioned about Ōkamiden, Hirabayashi acknowledged the game's fans and its mixed reception, stating, "We know that there are fans out there that like the game, of course. And we also know the feedback on the game out there, of how the story was taken and now how perhaps parts of the story weren’t aligning with what people were expecting. With that, we also have the sequel now that, as we explained before, is a continuation from the story of the original base Ōkami. That's how we're going to phrase it."

The ending of the original Ōkami sets the stage for a sequel, with Amaterasu and another character embarking on a new journey to an unexplored location, opening up possibilities for fresh challenges and adventures. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for more concrete details, as the team revealed that the Ōkami sequel is still in the very early stages of development. Hirabayashi shared their excitement for the project but cautioned, "It might take a little bit of time before we might talk again."

For those eager to learn more, the full interview with the leads of the Ōkami sequel is available for a deeper dive into what's in store.