Hideki Kamiya Pitches a 'Cozy' Life Sim Starring a Retired Leon Kennedy

Hideki Kamiya, the director of Resident Evil 2 and creator of Devil May Cry, has offered a surprising vision for a new game in the series. In a series of posts on X, Kamiya responded to fan inquiries about a potential return to the franchise by detailing a concept that is a far cry from the survival horror roots he helped establish.

Instead of the usual undead threats, Kamiya proposed a “cozy life sim” centered on a retired Leon Kennedy. According to the pitch, the game would follow Leon as he spends his days in the countryside. The proposed activities include “fishing, gathering wild vegetables, baking bread, walking his dog, tending to his garden, driving 50 kilometers to the nearest general store, inviting his old friends over for barbecues, fixing his elderly neighbor's oven, and selling homemade lemonade at the local festival.”

Kamiya, who has openly stated in the past that he “hates horror,” has long expressed a desire for a more relaxed experience within the series. Earlier this year, he even suggested that Capcom should implement a “non-scary” mode for Resident Evil Requiem to allow players to focus on puzzle-solving without the stress of survival horror elements.

The reaction to his “Resident not-Evil” pitch has been surprisingly positive, with some fans already dubbing the hypothetical title Resident Evil Pokopia. Acknowledging the enthusiasm, Kamiya reached out to the publisher directly: “Capcom, there seem to be a lot of people asking for a Resident not-Evil game like this. If you ever have the time, please consider making it… I'd like to play it too.”

While Kamiya’s impact on the Resident Evil series remains significant—having directed the second entry and introduced the iconic Leon Kennedy—he has not been professionally involved with the series since his early work on Resident Evil 4, which eventually evolved into the Devil May Cry series. For now, the cozy life sim remains a humorous hypothetical from one of the industry's most influential designers.

For those currently playing the latest entry in the franchise, be sure to check our guide on Resident Evil Requiem safe codes to help navigate the game's more traditional challenges.