Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Resident Evil 2 Director Hideki Kamiya Says Capcom Has Grown ‘Numb’ to How Scary New RE Games Are
Hideki Kamiya, the original director of Resident Evil 2, has reiterated his call for Capcom to introduce a "non-scary" mode in future Resident Evil games, insisting he is entirely serious about the idea. He argues that the studio's horror teams have become desensitised to how frightening their games have become due to increasingly photorealistic visuals, and that a gentler option would let people like himself, who struggle with horror, still enjoy the puzzles and combat.
Kamiya first raised the idea publicly in March 2026 via his studio Clovers Inc., suggesting zombies be made "cute" and blood splatters replaced with cherry blossom petals, alongside upbeat music. He expanded on the request in an August interview with Video Games Chronicle, revealing that he wanted to revisit the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil Requiem but found it too frightening to play through, and that he has privately urged Capcom's RE teams to consider simple tweaks, such as removing blood, softening zombie faces or using brighter lighting, only to be met with disbelief that the games are as scary as he describes.
In short
- Kamiya wants a "non-scary" mode added to Resident Evil games.
- He says Capcom's horror teams are numb to how frightening they are.
- He found Resident Evil Requiem's Raccoon City segment too scary to finish.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A non-scary mode could let players who enjoy Resident Evil’s puzzles, combat and story take part without having to endure horror that they find overwhelming. Optional changes such as brighter lighting or less graphic imagery could make the games more accessible while preserving the core experience for others.
The case against
Horror depends on atmosphere, tension and disturbing imagery, so substantially softening those elements could weaken the experience the series is designed to deliver. Capcom may reasonably prioritise the intended tone and use its development resources on the main game, especially if a gentler mode would require more than simple visual adjustments to feel coherent.
Explained simply
Resident Evil is a long-running series of video games from Japanese company Capcom. It follows people facing outbreaks of infection and other threats, with players exploring dangerous places, solving puzzles and fighting enemies such as zombies.
Hideki Kamiya is a Japanese game director who led the making of Resident Evil 2, released in 1998. The series has since used increasingly realistic graphics and frightening scenes; Capcom’s development teams create the games, while players can have very different levels of comfort with horror.
A gentler option could affect who feels able to play the games, while raising questions about how their frightening atmosphere is presented. Ideas include changing the look of enemies, reducing blood and using brighter lighting, while keeping puzzles and combat available.
Art Business Companies Culture Entertainment Gaming Horror