Producer Akihito Kadokawa and Game Director Satoru Nihei have revealed some details about their game. 

Way of the Sword is a completely new entry in the series, unconnected to previous installments. Its world has been fully reimagined and updated, allowing newcomers to experience the Onimusha franchise without needing prior knowledge of past games.

The game will feature two key elements—a new protagonist and unique characters, both allies and enemies, as well as Kyoto as the central setting. The story will explore "the way of the sword" of Musashi, depicting his transformation into a true master. The decision to base Miyamoto Musashi on Toshiro Mifune was an obvious choice for the developers—the actor perfectly embodied the legendary swordsman's image.

The combat system will introduce several innovations, such as attack parrying and environmental interactions (players can take cover from arrows behind tatami mats or disorient enemies using kimonos). When executed precisely, parrying will provide tactical advantages in battle. Additionally, unique techniques will be unlocked by collecting souls.

As the developers noted, Way of the Sword will not be a game overloaded with mechanics. Furthermore, Nihei emphasized that the team's goal was to make the project accessible to a wide range of players. "We are intentionally avoiding excessive difficulty", the game director explained. However, he assured that boss battles will not be easy—the developers have aimed to strike the perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment.

Kadokawa, in turn, added that Capcom has not yet finalized the difficulty settings but fully supports Nihei's stance: it’s crucial not to alienate the audience. According to him, the studio's main goal is to create a game that captivates players from the very first moments.

The estimated playtime will be around 20 hours. "This isn’t the kind of game where you’ll have to fight the same boss over and over, like in Monster Hunter", the developers stressed.

Special attention has been given to sound design, with traditional Japanese instruments used to maximize atmospheric immersion.

As Nihei stated, the studio is making every effort to release the project by the end of 2026.

Main image: wall.alphacoders.com

Comment on this