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Following Kazuhiro Tsuchiya’s departure in 2022, Shingo Izumi has taken on a larger role in guiding Mega Man's future as the franchise's new lead producer. With Star Force Legacy Collection out the door and Dual Override still in development, the immediate roadmap is clear.
But in a new interview with 80 Level, Izumi also spoke a bit about how Capcom is thinking about the series as it approaches its 40th anniversary.
With Mega Man approaching its 40th anniversary, how do you see the franchise evolving? What role do projects like Legacy Collections play in shaping its future alongside new titles?
Shingo Izumi: We intend to continue expanding the fan base while carefully preserving the appeal and value of the brand and pursuing new challenges. Our immediate focus is to ensure the success of Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection and Mega Man: Dual Override, and to build a strong foundation that connects to the future.
At the same time, we believe that collection titles play a significant role in revitalizing a brand, while also serving an important purpose in preserving and passing down game culture as part of its historical legacy. Ideally, we would like to release new titles and collection titles consistently, alternating between the two over time.
Izumi's interest in alternating between new titles and collections may offer the clearest hint yet at what Capcom wants Mega Man's release cadence to look like going forward. If they can follow through, that kind of consistency would go a long way toward supporting its goal of growing the series into a core IP. While the current “evergreen” approach has helped sustain the franchise in recent years, the demand for new games sooner rather than later is clear.
For more from Izumi and comments from Koji Oda, including some behind-the-scenes discussion about Star Force Legacy Collection, you can read the full interview at 80 Level.
Let's say they do that. And the next collection is released the year after dual override. And for arguments sake, let's say that it Is NOT Legends. What would they release that is substantial? What series collection isn't available on a modern console? With that said, are they going to release Legends and then be done with collections?
ReplyDeleteUnless, the key is in the wording? What if the next collection, is not a "legacy" collection? But a remaster or remakes of old titles in a modern way, with a modern take. Would that sell?
I think that would definitely work in favor of games that are a bit meatier, say, Command Mission.
DeleteThere are still plenty of games that haven’t been included in collections: Rockman & Forte (SFC and WS versions), colored versions of the Game Boy games, Xtreme 1 and 2, Command Mission, HD versions of Rockman Rockman and Irregular Hunter X, Mega World, EXE WS, Battle Chip Challenge, Network Transmission, Rockman 8 (Saturn), Rockman X3 (CD version), etc.
DeleteI don’t understand why Rockman Corner or The Mega Man Network never get interviews with the guys from Capcom Japan. It’s always other sites that get those interviews (what even is 80Lv?). Why doesn’t Capcom speak directly to the fan communities? It would answer a lot of questions. What’s the explanation?
DeleteLol kinda random imo, but ok I guess. That means we can look forward to like...1 or 2 new games at best? Anything not in a collection would be what? The Gameboy games, legends series(which they apparently dont wanna do for whatever reason) and Command Mission? Unless they are going to try and give us battle and chase and mm soccer or something in a collection? Lol.
ReplyDeleteLike decent idea, but several collections a bit late imo.
...or are we getting the next Gen consoles soon? Or are they planning on just waiting that long to do anything with megaman? See ya in 203x! Lol.
Well, I’m glad they’re starting now, even if they should’ve done this from the start, or at least after XLC… And yeah, I think “collection” here might be closer to “more derivative, lower budget title.” Maybe even something like 9/10, or a genre spinoff? Ah, I shouldn’t get too excited. Realistically, there can’t be more than a few LC’s left in the tank, maybe he just means the relatively short term future.
ReplyDeleteI'd be okay with this in theory. A new game takes more effort than a collection (not that collections don't take work, particularly with qol updates and remastering things), but helps keep the franchise in the public consciousness. That being said, aside from Legends and, like, Command Mission (WHICH I WOULD LOVE A RERELEASE FOR), what else could really be rereleased? I guess a remake of the PSP remakes could work. It would probably be a little odd since we already have the Classic and X collections, but could conceivably be done. It'd be nice to have an official, non-GBA scrunched English release of Mega Man & Bass, but that alone would not a collection make.
ReplyDeleteI'd be okay with them digging into the vault and releasing more obscure stuff, like a non-mobile port of Xover or that weird poker game, but I think the odds of those getting released are pretty small, and I'm not sure those would be a big draw to non-superfans. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of NOT having to wait another decade to get a new game, I just don't know how this would work practically. But the fact that they're, however vaguely, acknowledging plans for future games is good to hear.