Core franchise growth for Capcom

Three new titles and two new IPs were showcased at Capcom’s Captivate event in Miami last week.

The publisher has unveiled three new games – Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, Dragon’s Dogma and Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.

It also detailed other key titles, including Asura’s Wrath, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, RE: The Mercenaries 3D, and Street Fighter X Tekken.

SFIV: Arcade will be out this summer on PS3, 360 and PC. It features 39 characters, including one completely new fighter, Oni.

Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, due in Q4 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, is a ‘re-imagining’ of Dead Rising 2, with Frank West, star of the original game, back as the main playable character.

Dragon’s Dogma, due in 2012 on PS3 and Xbox 360, is a completely original open world action game created by the team behind Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry 4.

Capcom’s director of PR strategy Ben Le Rougetel, told MCV: Captivate provides a great opportunity for media from across the globe to get real insight into our line-up.

"This is the fourth year we have run Captivate and initial feedback from attendees is that this was our strongest showing to date.”

In an interview with MCV, Capcom Europe COO David Reeves said the firm was refocusing its portfolio around banner hits like Resi and SF, with more ‘calculated risks’ around new IP.

The strategy going forward is for those two franchises to form the basis of the portfolio,” he said.

We’re not saying it’s going to be all about Street Fighter and Resident Evil forever. There will be new projects, but they will be shot through with Capcom’s quality DNA and subjected to a very rigorous green light process.”

He confirmed that another new property is on the way.

We’ve already announced Asura’s Wrath and Dragon’s Dogma, and there will be at least one more original title from us that will come out next year.”