Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise has become so effective at inducing fear that its own creators may have lost touch with the intensity of their work. Director Hideki Kamiya argues that this desensitization risks alienating players who cannot handle extreme horror. His comments highlight a growing tension between maintaining franchise terror and ensuring broader accessibility for nervous audiences.
Director proposes non-scary mode to help players who cannot handle intense fear
Kamiya, the director of the original Resident Evil 2, suggests that development teams are now completely numb to the scare factors they implement. He points to his own inability to finish playing Resident Evil Requiem as evidence that the horror has crossed a threshold for many gamers. This personal admission underscores the challenge of balancing shock value with player comfort in modern survival horror design.
To address this issue, Kamiya proposes adding a 'non-scary' mode to future titles, similar to accessibility options in his Bayonetta series. He suggests mechanical changes such as reducing the visual scariness of zombies or adjusting lighting to lower the overall tension. These adjustments would allow players who cannot handle intense horror to enjoy the game without being overwhelmed by fear.
Kamiya states he has privately shared this feedback with Resident Evil team members, including series producer Takeuchi-san. He emphasizes that he wants his games to be enjoyable for people who cannot handle scary content at all. We've been tracking Resident Evil closely — see our earlier coverage on Resident Evil creator says games must.
Source: VideoGameChronicles
