Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami: It's Up to Developers to Make Games People Want to Play, Not Just Watch

Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil, recently shared his thoughts on game streaming and the issue of viewers feeling satisfied just watching playthroughs without playing the game themselves.

According to Nikkan Sports, comedian and gamer Eiko Kano appeared on a late-night Japanese TV show where guests share stories about people they admire. Kano recounted asking Mikami about game streamers and spoilers.

Mikami responded, "If viewers watching a game stream through to the ending feel satisfied, then that’s all the game is worth. It’s our job (as game creators) to make games that people want to try completing with their own hands, even if they have already watched the whole game." He then encouraged Kano to keep streaming.

Kano streams games on his YouTube channel and even appeared as a playable character in a promotional version of Street Fighter 2. Although he had official permission from publishers, he was concerned about how creators like Mikami felt when their games' puzzles and plot twists were spoiled in livestreams. If Mikami had disapproved, Kano said he would have quit streaming.

Kano also mentioned receiving a similar response from Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii when asked the same question.

Earlier this month, Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi described people watching RPGs instead of playing them as a "crisis." However, like Mikami and Horii, he emphasized that developers must create games that spark curiosity in stream watchers, making them want to play. "If people watch a game stream and it makes them wonder, ‘What would I do in that situation?’ or ‘How would I experiment with that?’, then they’ll hopefully be inspired to try playing it themselves," he explained, adding that "The world is changing, and entertainment must evolve with the times."

As for Mikami, Stellar Blade developer Shift Up acquired his new studio, Unbound, earlier this year and plans to help create and publish its next game. Mikami, known for his work on Devil May Cry, Dino Crisis, and The Evil Within, founded Unbound after leaving Tango Gameworks before Microsoft closed the studio—the Hi-Fi Rush developer has since been acquired and reopened by PUBG owner Krafton. Unbound was founded in 2022 and remained independent until now, having not released or revealed any project.

In an announcement video, Mikami teased that he was working on "a fairly large game," insisting "we’re going to create a masterpiece of a game."