Ōkami 2 Confirmed to Be a Direct Sequel, Still in Early Development

The announcement of a sequel to the beloved adventure game Ōkami at The Game Awards last year sparked widespread excitement among fans, yet details about the game remain scarce. In a recent interview with IGN, project leads shed some light on what to expect, confirming that the "Ōkami sequel" is indeed a direct continuation of the original game's narrative.

Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi affirmed to IGN that the upcoming sequel will extend the story seen in the first Ōkami game. When asked if the great god Amaterasu was featured in the trailer shown at The Game Awards, director Hideki Kamiya teased with a cryptic "I wonder...," but Hirabayashi quickly clarified that it was indeed Amaterasu.

While this confirmation might not surprise fans, there has been considerable speculation about how the sequel will address the legacy of Ōkami. It's worth noting that a previous sequel, Ōkamiden, released for the Nintendo DS, follows Amaterasu's child, Chibiterasu, and reintroduces several characters from the original game. However, Ōkamiden received mixed reviews, partly due to its platform and the absence of key members from the original team, including Kamiya.

When questioned about Ōkamiden and its potential acknowledgment in the new sequel, Hirabayashi responded thoughtfully:

"We know that there are fans out there that like the game, of course. And we also know the feedback on the game out there, of how the story was taken and now how perhaps parts of the story weren’t aligning with what people were expecting. With that, we also have the sequel now that, as we explained before, is a continuation from the story of the original base Ōkami. That's how we're going to phrase it."

The ending of the original Ōkami sets the stage for a sequel, with Amaterasu and another character embarking on a new journey not explored in the first game. This leaves ample opportunity for fresh challenges and developments in the narrative.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for more detailed information about the Ōkami sequel. The development team confirmed that the project is in its very early stages, and their early announcement was driven by their enthusiasm. Hirabayashi noted, "It might take a little bit of time before we might talk again."

For those eager to learn more, you can view the full interview with the leads of the Ōkami sequel [ttpp].