If you think Capcom is playing too safe with its software output as of late, there may be a reason for that. Not a great reason — in fact, it's a flat-out stupid one — but a reason all the same. In an interview with Japan's Famitsu magazine as interpreted by EventHubs, Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono mentioned that the Darkstalkers Resurrection compilation missed its sales target, thus the only way for a proper Darkstalkers sequel to be made would be if sales of Resurrection suddenly jumped by 4 million. When it comes to why more sequels in general aren't developed, Ono had this to say:
[A]t the end of the day, there are just some brick walls that a salaryman can never overcome *laughs*. For instance, if a game doesn't sell over 2 million copies, then we'd have to put the brakes on any plans for a sequel. All that means is that we weren't capable enough. And all we can do after that is to reflect on the experience, take what we can learn from it, and try to apply those lessons on some other title.
Ono makes it clear that this isn't what he personally believes and that he would love to pursue new installments in franchises that didn't necessarily tear the roof down, but upper management politics win out in the end. The takeaway is that a new IP is only worth attempting if you can guarantee at least 2 million sales. Otherwise, best to just stick to sequels in franchises that do hit those numbers, like Resident Evil or Monster Hunter. Clearly, this only applies to big-budget console games — the Ace Attorney series on portables keeps on trucking despite not coming close to that threshold in any single installment, for example.
Beyond the obvious reason of general mismanagement, this is a ridiculous policy because, in Capcom's entire history, only 23 titles have broken the 2 million barrier, most of which are installments within eight distinct properties: Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Dead Rising, Dino Crisis, Marvel vs. Capcom, and Onimusha. Even then, the most recent entries in some of these franchises didn't even hit 2 million, like DmC: Devil May Cry (1.6 million) and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (<1 million), which is likely why Capcom hasn't said a word about any new chapters since.
Look further down the list and you'll find many titles that Capcom once hailed as great successes without touching the lofty 2 million mark. Even so, you'll notice the lack of many titles that are fondly remembered to this day and went on to receive numerous sequels despite none of them breaking a million (like Ace Attorney, as I mentioned). Something is seriously wrong at Capcom if no one there can figure out how to stay in business without reaching figures that only a small sample of videogames since the dawn of the industry has ever been able to touch.
If Capcom can't figure out how to explore experimental ideas as well as serve long-time fans who want to see new games in their favorite series, all without setting unattainable goals far beyond reason, you'll see the well continue to dry up until nothing is left.
