The future of the beloved survival horror franchise, Dino Crisis, remains uncertain, according to original series director Shinji Mikami. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Mikami expressed his belief that a Dino Crisis revival might be a long way off, citing the immense success of Capcom’s flagship dinosaur-themed franchise, Monster Hunter.
Mikami acknowledges the cultural impact of Dino Crisis, highlighting its dedicated fanbase and impressive sales figures exceeding 4.4 million copies across three games. However, he contends that Monster Hunter’s monumental sales exceeding 100 million units overshadows the potential for a new Dino Crisis. “The awesomeness of dinosaurs and the stuff you can do with dinosaurs, that’s been kind of really nailed down by Monster Hunter in recent years. So even if I were to decide to make a remake or a new version of Dino Crisis, I don’t really feel like there’s a whole lot of space for that kind of game right now, just since Monster Hunter has become such a big game,” Mikami shared with Eurogamer at Gamescom 2024.
Capcom’s recent ventures into the dinosaur-infused genre include the 2023 release of Exoprimal, a live-service co-op shooter where players battle against dinosaurs. While Exoprimal’s development has slowed down, it demonstrates Capcom’s willingness to experiment with dinosaur-themed gameplay. However, Mikami’s comments indicate that a Dino Crisis revival might not be a priority for Capcom in the near future, as the company focuses on bolstering the colossal success of Monster Hunter.
Despite the potential for a Dino Crisis revival, Mikami’s stance underscores the competitive landscape within Capcom’s portfolio, where the success of one franchise can overshadow the potential for others. As Monster Hunter continues to dominate the dinosaur niche, the fate of Dino Crisis remains shrouded in uncertainty.
