A couple of weeks ago, Canadian retailer PNP Games changed the launch date of Onimusha: Way of the Sword from the official September 25, 2026 to September 4.
The game was featured in CAPCOM's Spotlight the following week, but CAPCOM did not announce any changes to the release date, so it seemed like an error on the retailer's part. However, earlier today, the Japanese developer confirmed it: Onimusha: Way of the Sword is now set to debut on September 4 across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series S|X, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store.
The move was undoubtedly dictated by the fact that the game would have had to clash with Konami's Silent Hill Townfall and Remedy's Control: Resonant, both of which launch on September 24. That said, it's not like the new window is completely empty: August 27 will see the debut of Asobo Studio's Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy and BitReactor's Star Wars: Zero Company, while September 3 is the date chosen by Rebel Wolves' The Blood of the Dawnwalker and Shapefarm's Orbitals. Still, CAPCOM must have figured its game had better chances in the new window.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword marks CAPCOM's return to the dormant series after exactly two decades, rebuilding its combat around a single katana rather than the multi-weapon system of earlier entries. In an interview with Wccftech at Summer Game Fest, Director Satoru Nihei explained that the team wanted to explore the full range of expression possible with one blade, while adding new parry and deflect mechanics tailored to each enemy and attack type.
The game's protagonist, Miyamoto Musashi, draws visual and behavioral inspiration from actor Toshiro Mifune, with the team studying his performances across multiple films to capture his mannerisms rather than replicating a single role. Dual-wielding traditions are preserved through special Oni-powered moves and "Break Issen" executions, even though the equipped weapon remains a single sword.
The signature Issen counter returns with expanded variants, including a standard timed version and a chainable "Rensa Issen," with difficulty-based timing windows and no on-screen prompts. Set primarily in a "wide-linear" reimagining of Kyoto, the game blends linear story progression with optional side content, and CAPCOM estimates a first playthrough at roughly 20 hours. Built on the RE Engine, it also introduces a new "free-cut" system enabling precise sword-slice visuals during Issen kills.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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