Hideaki Itsuno, the game director behind the upcoming Devil May Cry 5, has revealed that while Capcom gave him the opportunity to direct a sequel to the beloved Dragon’s Dogma, he chose to focus his efforts elsewhere. And that effort was Devil May Cry 5.
Speaking to VG24/7 during the media tour for Devil May Cry 5, Itsuno explained that Capcom had given him the freedom to choose between which of his game series he would like to develop next. Itsuno approached Capcom founder Kenzo Tsujimoto with soft plans for sequels to both Devil May Cry 4 and Dragon’s Dogma, claiming he was content with either game being his next project.
“I want to make either Devil May Cry 5 or Dragon’s Dogma 2 next,” he told Tsujimoto when discussions about his next project were raised.
Itsuno goes on to say that Tsujimoto left the decision up to the developer, who ultimately decided to create Devil May Cry 5 first.
Itsuno’s work at Capcom has been prolific, to say the least. Under his game direction, Capcom has seen the release of several popular titles including entries into the Street Fighter franchise and the surprise hit Dragon’s Dogma. Fans of the 2012 action-roleplaying title have been vocal about their desire for a sequel since interest in the series was reignited by the release of Dark Arisen, an enhanced port which is now available on PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Dragon’s Dogma has been a steady earner for Capcom, with its initial release being credited for the company’s record-breaking earnings in 2012 while the PC port of Dark Arisen went on to become one of the company’s fastest-selling PC titles.
Itsuno fondly recalls the development of the game, telling VG24/7 that he created Dragon’s Dogma in response to the kind of experiences he wanted to have as a child. While he considers Dragon’s Dogma his personal favorite development project, Itsuno acknowledged that often the games he wishes to make the most are not the titles he should be making.
During the interview, Itsuno also mentioned that he has ideas in mind for a potential sequel but notes that his next project, which enters production very soon, cannot be disclosed just yet. Given Itsuno’s affection for the series and Capcom’s clear trust in the director’s vision, it is not entirely out of the question that his next project may finally be a return to Dragon’s Dogma.
In the meantime, Devil May Cry 5 is shaping up to be a decent, if familiar, sequel which you can read our impressions on here.
