Capcom has become one of the most consistent AAA publishers in recent memory, with its releases consistently well-reviewed. It wasn’t that long ago when fans wondered if the company was washed, with releases like Street Fighter 5 and Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite being underwhelming. That all changed when they revealed Resident Evil 7 to the world.
Fans might not believe this, but Capcom has been nearly untouchable since the release of Resident Evil 7. They will occasionally release an Exoprimal or mad Resident Evil multiplayer game, but most of their single-player titles are of high quality. Even games that flirt with live service like Street Fighter 6 and Monster Hunter Wilds are great in their own right.
It all started with the game’s marketing. Capcom initially revealed this game in 2015 as a VR demo called “Kitchen.” Using a first-person perspective and being set in a creepy kitchen, fans assumed the company was working on a horror title similar to Amnesia. After Resident Evil 6 came out to mixed reviews, fans thought the series was on ice for a while.
And then E3 2016 came along.
Another trailer for “Kitchen” played during the show, with many fans assuming it was related to Condemned or something else. So when the trailer finally ended with Resident Evil 7, everyone was shocked. This reveal was even more shocking because it immediately came with a June 2017 release date and a playable demo for PS4 owners.
Naturally, this was a very successful method of revealing games, and Capcom has been doing it ever since.
Ever since Resident Evil 7 was released, almost every new game Capcom reveals has a release date or release window. It’s instant gratification for gamers, since they immediately know when to expect these games. This method worked for Devil May Cry 5, Monster Hunter Wilds, and even the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
Out of all the Capcom trends, we hope this one doesn’t stop.
It also helps that Resident Evil 7 was a consistently great game, and each of Capcom’s subsequent releases has been the same. This installment made the series feel fresh again, with its focus on horror and first-person perspective. Fans liked the first-person mode so much that they returned for Village, though that game also had a third-person camera mode available as paid DLC.
Like we said, each after 7’s release has also been good. From the remakes of Resident Evil entries to MH Rise and Wilds, Capcom has been on fire. The fact that Capcom’s bringing back Onimusha and Okami shows how confident this company has become. We might not get Mega Man X9, but seeing these older entries return is still pretty cool.
Even if you don’t like Resident Evil 7, the game helped Capcom become a beloved publisher with consistent releases. You won’t see Rockstar or PlayStation release games this quickly anymore, that’s for sure.