Capcom’s Ambitious Transformation of RE Engine Through AI Integration
In a significant development for the gaming industry, Capcom has announced its plans to evolve its in-house RE Engine into an “AI-generation game engine.” This announcement was made by programmer Satoshi Ishida during the Capcom Open Conference RE:2026 held on October 2, 2023, as part of a comprehensive initiative known as the REX Project.
Evolution of the RE Engine
Originally developed in 2014 and launching with Resident Evil 7 in 2017, the RE Engine has powered nearly 30 titles from Capcom. Its rapid adoption can be attributed to its versatility and efficiency, yet the growing complexity of modern games poses new challenges.
Challenges Driving the REX Project
Ishida highlighted three main challenges influencing the redesign of the RE Engine:
- **Increasing Game Complexity:** The expanding scope and data volume of contemporary games has resulted in slower build and iteration times.
- **Need for Multilingual Support:** With over 2,000 developers utilizing the engine globally, improvements in multilingual and accessibility features are crucial.
- **Integration of AI in Development:** There is a need for AI to be integrated into the development pipeline rather than being added as an afterthought.
Innovative Features of the REX Project
To address these challenges, Capcom plans to incorporate several innovative systems into the RE Engine:
- RE:Dox: A system that standardizes data processing across various formats.
- RE:UI: A tool designed to accelerate development by separating visual appearance from functional state.
- RE:Log: This feature replaces traditional text-based logging with an ID-based system for greater efficiency.
- RE:Flows: A visual scripting tool capable of automatically converting scripts into standard code.
- RE:Runtime: A restructured runtime core focused on batch processing, complemented by a new optimized execution layer—RE:C++.
The Future of AI in Game Development
Ishida envisions a future where AI plays a critical role in game creation, with the capability to understand and generate code, conduct automated testing to identify bugs, and assist in the development process. He expressed aspirations for a collaborative environment where teams can “create games together with AI.” Notably, Capcom has already begun to open-source aspects of this technology to facilitate AI training.
Contextual Remarks from Capcom
This announcement builds on earlier statements made by Capcom in June, where the company noted that its use of generative AI aims to enhance operational efficiency, allowing developers to focus more on creative aspects. The company emphasized that “the creativity at the core of such experiences should be handled by humans.”
Upcoming Releases and Future Plans
In related news, Capcom is set to release a Switch 2 port of Monster Hunter Wilds on December 4, 2023. This version will include all previously available free DLC updates, featuring new monsters and local co-op gameplay.
