Shinji Mikami, widely recognized as the godfather of modern survival horror, recently hinted at stepping away from the genre he helped redefine with the Resident Evil series.
In a recent interview, game designer Suda51 discussed future projects with Mikami, who remained tight-lipped about the specifics.
Mikami played a crucial role in shaping Resident Evil during its early days on fifth-generation consoles, driving the series to widespread acclaim in the 1990s. He also directed Resident Evil 4, which shifted the franchise toward a more action-oriented approach while maintaining the intense atmosphere of survival horror.
During a Gamescom interview with Suda51 and PCGamesN, he revealed his intention to move away from the genre and explore new creative directions:
I think I want to take a break from survival horror.
Mikami shared, echoing sentiments he had voiced a few months earlier in an interview with Byking Game on YouTube. He explained he feels pigeonholed into the genre and is eager to explore other avenues at his studio, Kamuy. The new studio is dedicated to fostering the growth of young developers.
While details about these projects are still under wraps, Mikami did mention that he’s been playing Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2. He also mentioned playing its zombie-themed predecessor, Undead Nightmare.
Despite the industry’s volatility, Shinji Mikami has consistently delivered mainstream hits and cult favorites. After the success of RE4, he directed Vanquish, a fast-paced third-person shooter that exemplifies the high-octane style of PlatinumGames. He also contributed to Suda51’s Shadows of the Damned. A new remaster of the game, Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, will release in December 2024.
Mikami later founded Tango Gameworks. There he continued to experiment with horror in The Evil Within series before leaving in 2023. Microsoft eventually shut down Tango, but the studio was recently revived by Krafton Inc.
Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture are both enjoying a revival, with their current focus on remastering older titles. Flower, Sun, and Rain, and Michigan: Road to Hell are all on his radar for future projects.
