Capcom reports a record year and bets on generative AI

Capcom completed its financial year (ended March 31, 2026) with its ninth consecutive record of revenues and announced a pivot toward generative AI as a strategic tool to accelerate the development of new games and expand its portfolio.

Nine Victories in a Row

The company established an impressive record: nine financial years in a row with growing revenues and profits. This is a period of unprecedented success for the Japanese gaming industry giant — over nine years, Capcom has doubled its revenue volumes and significantly strengthened its position both in the domestic Japanese market and in the West. The success was driven by steady releases of popular franchises, first and foremost Resident Evil Requiem, which exceeded internal sales forecasts and became one of the main financial drivers in the reporting period.

Beyond new releases, the company continued to actively support the fan community through continuous updates for Monster Hunter, Street Fighter and other classic series. The mobile direction also showed double-digit growth, expanding the user base in Asian and Western markets.

• Resident Evil Requiem — the year's flagship release, exceeded internal forecasts by 40%
• Monster Hunter series generates stable quarterly revenue thanks to its loyal core fanbase
• Street Fighter remains in the top-10 franchises by revenue
• Mobile games grew the user base by 30% year-over-year, especially in Asia

Generative AI as a Growth Tool

Capcom's leadership announced a strategic decision to integrate generative AI into the new game development cycle. According to the company, this technology will accelerate the creation of artistic assets, automate level prototyping, optimize testing, and reduce project time-to-market from four years to two to three. This is important in a competitive environment where slow development means losing audience. The company plans a special focus on using AI to create original new IP — new franchises that will expand the portfolio.

"Generative AI will allow us to expand our portfolio and improve

development pace while maintaining our high content quality standards," the company stated.

Leadership emphasized: human creativity and expertise of game designers remain at the center of development. AI is viewed as a tool to accelerate routine work and quickly experiment with ideas, not as a replacement for the creative team. This position reflects a balance between innovation and preserving the uniqueness of Capcom games, which is known for its author-driven approach.

What This Means

Capcom is one of the first major publishers to openly commit to integrating generative AI into AAA game development. This is a signal for the industry: AI tools are transitioning from research into real-world application. For players, this could mean more frequent game releases and an expanded portfolio of franchises. For developers, it is both an opportunity and a challenge. The industry watches how Capcom implements this strategy, whether it will maintain content quality, and how creative processes will change. This is not the first sign of how leading publishers are beginning to seek new ways to accelerate development and remain competitive in the age of AI.