Game director Hideki Kamiya has taken to social media to clarify recent comments about the Resident Evil franchise, hitting back at critics who he says misinterpreted his stance on the iconic survival-horror series.
The controversy began earlier this week when viral clips of Kamiya suggested he wanted Capcom to tone down the fear factor in future Resident Evil installments. As the director of 1998’s critically acclaimed Resident Evil 2, Kamiya’s opinions carry immense weight within the horror gaming community. Unsurprisingly, fan reaction to the suggestion was swift and hostile.
Clarifying his position on Twitter, Kamiya pushed back against claims that he wanted to fundamentally alter the franchise’s DNA.
“I didn’t say ‘cut the horror from Resident Evil’…” Kamiya tweeted (machine translated). “What I’m saying is ‘add a mode that reduces the horror and make it selectable’… It’s a real hassle that idiots can’t distinguish between those two things…”
Kamiya’s asserts his comments were intended to promote accessibility, suggesting an opt-in toggle or dedicated difficulty setting that dials back intense jumpscares, oppressive lighting, or disturbing visuals. The proposed feature would allow squeamish players or those sensitive to high-stress gaming environments to experience the series’ acclaimed narrative and resource-management mechanics without being overwhelmed by terror.
The debate highlights a growing trend in the games industry toward comprehensive accessibility options. Titles like Dead Space (2023) introduced content warnings and visual filters for sensitive themes, while narrative-driven games frequently offer “story mode” difficulties to reduce combat stress.
Whether Capcom will ever implement such an option remains to be seen, but Kamiya has made one thing abundantly clear: he just wants players to have a choice.
