Okami director Hideki Kamiya shares special 20th anniversary message as work continues on the sequel

An Okami sequel is in the works, so fans were right to expect a sizable celebration from Capcom for the original game's 20th anniversary, which was yesterday, 20th April. More interestingly, game director Hideki Kamiya shared a heartfelt (and encouraging) special message with fans.

Capcom has set up a pretty impressive website for all the birthday news and new merch offerings, complete with gorgeous net artwork and quick explainers of who Amaterasu is alongside intros to Okami's world ahead of the long-awaited sequel. It's no secret younger gamers aren't as familiar (if at all) with the iconic action-adventure game as veterans, so it makes sense to drum up some excitement well before we get our first look at the sequel.

As part of the celebration, Kamiya expressed his gratitude for the continued support over two decades. Without all the enduring fan noise, it's safe to say a sequel wouldn't have gotten off the ground. "Seeing the support you've all poured into Ōkami since its original release, together with my immense pride for having worked on it, could not make me happier to celebrate this milestone," he said.

Kamiya also highlighted how the game's legacy has expanded outside the original release and its HD remaster despite the IP never becoming as huge as Capcom's heavy hitters. In fact, he revealed he and his "collection of Amaterasu figures and plushies could not be more thankful." Just how many Amaterasu figures and plushies does he have? I want someone to ask him during an interview.

Finally, the creative acknowledged "those connections will continue to deepen and expand well beyond its 20th anniversary", mainly due to the in-development sequel. "I'll be putting my blood, sweat, and tears into the new Ōkami sequel that you've all been waiting for!" At the time of writing, no release window has been set by publisher Capcom or Kamiya's new studio Clovers.