Capcom is currently experiencing a period of significant creative and commercial momentum, driven by the critical success of upcoming titles like Pragmata and Resident Evil Requiem.
According to a report from Kotaku, the Japanese publisher has moved past a decade-long slump that once saw the company disparagingly nicknamed 'Crapcom' by critics.
Recent releases show a company firing on all cylinders. While some experimental titles like Exoprimal failed to land, the developer has maintained a consistent streak of high-quality releases over the last several years.
From franchise decline to industry standard
The company's trajectory is most visible in the Resident Evil franchise. Following the revolution of Resident Evil 4 in 2005, the series entered a period of decline through Resident Evil 5 and 6.
Kotaku notes that Resident Evil 6 abandoned horror atmosphere in favor of generic cooperative action. This era was marked by a trend of shoehorning multiplayer elements into single-player staples to chase industry trends.
Capcom corrected this course with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in 201 . The 2017 release reintroduced a focus on horror and a first-person perspective, eventually leading to the genre-defining success of recent entries.
Similar recoveries have defined other major Capcom IPs. Street Fighter V moved from a disastrous launch to the revitalized Street Fighter 6, while Devil May Cry 5 reestablished the series as an action standard-bearer.
Beyond reviving old IPs, Capcom is investing in new intellectual property. The sci-fi puzzle shooter Pragmata features a blend of twitch shooting and real-time puzzle-solving that stands out in a crowded market.
The developer is also reviving dormant legends, including a return to the Onimusha series and a new Mega Man title scheduled for next year. This expansion into both new ideas and revitalized classics suggests a stabilized corporate strategy.
