Onimusha Way of the Sword: everything you need to know before the release tomorrow

Last true Onimusha: 2006. Dawn of Dreams , PS2, a time when the most powerful graphics card on the market was a 7900 GTX. Twenty years later, Capcom brings the franchise out of the closet with Onimusha: Way of the Sword , and the timing is quite good.

The game is coming out tomorrow, September 4, 2026 , on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam) and even Switch 2. Capcom initially scheduled it for September 25, then moved the date up by three weeks — usually a good sign. When a publisher delays, it's panic. When they move it up, it's because they know the game is ready.

On the technical side, we are on the RE Engine — the same engine as Resident Evil Village, Monster Hunter Wilds and Devil May Cry 5. Capcom masters its tool, and the previews confirm that the game runs like clockwork. But we will detail all of this.

Whether you're a fan of the first Onimusha or discovering the series, here’s everything you need to know before starting the download tomorrow morning.

The hero is Miyamoto Musashi . Not an invented character — the real legendary samurai, the one from Book of Five Rings . Capcom chose to stage it in a dark fantasy version of the Kyoto of the Edo period , where the city is corrupted by a force called Malice and invaded by the Genma — the historical demon race of the series.

Musashi arrives in Kyoto with a simple goal: to prove that he is the best swordsman in Japan. Except that nothing goes as planned. He finds himself with the Oni Gauntlet grafted onto the arm — not by choice. This gauntlet allows him to absorb the souls of the Genma and use supernatural powers, but Musashi does not want it. For him, it's the katana and nothing else.

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In the gauntlet lives a voice, Shizuka , who has his own motivations. The dynamic between a samurai who refuses the supernatural and an artifact that forces him to accept it is the narrative heart of the game. According to the previews, Musashi is described as dry, direct, with deadpan humor — not a permanently tragic hero.

The main rival of the demo shares a past with Musashi, which adds weight to the confrontations. We are far from the generic villain who appears to get sliced up.

This is where it happens. The battle of Onimusha has always been based on timing — the famous Issen , this perfect counter-attack that triggers an instant kill when you strike just at the right moment. Way of the Sword takes this foundation and develops it.

The classic Issen is still there, with several directional variants. But Capcom adds the Break Issen : each enemy now has a stamina gauge. Your attacks not only deal HP damage — they also drain the opponent's stamina. Once the gauge is at zero, the enemy breaks and you can follow up with a devastating finisher. On basic enemies, it's a one-shot. On bosses, it's a window for big damage.

The Chain Issen comes back too — chaining several Issen in a row on a group of enemies is still just as satisfying. And Capcom adds a new technique, the Blade Barrage , to vary the offensive approaches.

It's the big technical novelty. The katana strikes cut in the direction of the strike . A horizontal strike cuts horizontally, a vertical strike cleaves from top to bottom. Capcom had a specific system developed by the RE Engine team for this. Visually, it's brutal and satisfying — the previews all emphasize this point.

You can play in mode Aggressive or Defensive . The Aggressive mode favors offense with smoother combos. The Defensive mode facilitates parries and deflects. It's not a difficulty choice — it's a philosophy choice. Players coming from Sekiro or Nioh will lean towards Aggressive. Those who prefer to observe and punish will go towards Defensive.

Musashi primarily fights with the katana, using one-handed strikes (fast) or two-handed strikes (powerful). But he also has access to magic weapons powered by a magic gauge that is filled by absorbing blue orbs. And the Oni Bow — a bow for long-range shooting, triggering traps and solving certain environmental puzzles. The game gradually opens up after the linear introduction section.

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The demo was released a few weeks before the launch, and the feedback is generally very positive. The consensus: the combat is fluid, precise and satisfying . The animations are excellent, the weight sensation of the hits is there, and the parry — once the timing is integrated — becomes natural.

The absorption of souls via the Oni Gauntlet works well visually and mechanically. The overall polish is impressive, which is not surprising coming from the RE Engine. Capcom knows how to run this engine.

The downside? The difficulty. Several players and testers reported that even the hardest mode available in the demo was too easy . The final boss of the demo does not pose enough problems. This is a recurring feedback on Reddit and Steam.

We hope that the full game will offer more challenging difficulty modes at launch. A well-constructed combat deserves to be put to the test. If Capcom releases a day-one patch with a "hardcore" mode or equivalent, that would be perfect.

The animations and the combat system are the real highlights of the demo. It remains to be seen if the full game dares to push the difficulty. — Consensus of previews August 2026

The game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch 2 . On console, two graphic modes: Performance to 60 fps (dynamic resolution up to 4K) and Quality at 30 fps in fixed 4K . The PS5 Pro benefits from ray tracing reflections as well.

On PC, it's DLSS 4.5 and FSR 3.1 on the agenda, with ray tracing reflections for those who have the power. No path tracing or RT global illumination for now — Capcom remains reasonable about the requirements.

• Standard — 59.99€ to 79.99€ depending on the retailers (Cdiscount, Carrefour promotions from 59.99€)
• Deluxe Edition — 89.99€ (bonus content + early access)
• Premium Deluxe Edition — 99.99€ (all content + artbook + steelbook)
• Lenticular Edition — 79.99€ at Micromania (exclusive lenticular cover)

The recommended standard price is 79.99€ on PS5 according to the PlayStation sheet. But with the launch promos, you can find it for €59.99 quite easily. On PC via Steam, check the regional prices — sometimes it's a little cheaper.

Capcom has confirmed that a playable demo would be available before the launch. If it is still online by the time you read this, go for it — it's the best way to get an opinion on the gameplay.

No. The story is independent. You embody Miyamoto Musashi in a new scenario. Fans of the series will find the Genma and the Oni Gauntlet, but no prior knowledge is required.

Not really. It's an action-adventure game with semi-open areas that expand as you progress. After the linear introduction section, exploration develops with more tools and alternative paths.

No, Onimusha Way of the Sword is a solo experience only. No coop, no PvP.

Capcom mentions an "exclusive experience" on Switch 2, which suggests specific features related to the console. The performance should be decent given the RE Engine, but post-launch feedback will confirm.