Summary
- Former Resident Evil devs Hideaki and Saori Utsumi are forming new studio called Birdkin.
- The announcement on Twitter included a screenshot of their game and confirmation of a Steam and Switch release.
- Unlike the duo's previous work, this studio is working on an 8-bit style game with a chibi art design.
Former Capcom developers who worked on the Resident Evil franchise have announced a new game they’re working on for Steam and the Nintendo Switch. Hideaki and Saori Utsumi are hanging up the horror vibes from their Resident Evil days to craft a cute-looking title under their new studio as a professional duo and married couple.
Hideaki Utsumi worked as a sound designer on Capcom’s original 1996 Resident Evil title and its sequel two years later. These entries are considered two of many Resident Evil games with the best music. Utsumi also contributed to the music on the first entry’s GameCube remake, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, and Resident Evil 5. Saori Utsumi previously worked as a composer for Capcom, arranging music for Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Mega Man Xtreme.
Announced on Twitter, Hideaki and Saori shared a post from the account of their brand-new game development studio called Birdkin Studio. The couple noted the studio was small, with only Hideaki and Saori running operations for now, and the duo also announced they were working on a new game for Steam and the Nintendo Switch that's very different from the couple’s previous work. From designing the music in some of Resident Evil’s most polarizing games to creating a cute and wholesome-looking title of their own, Hideaki and Saori have an established fanbase of followers and fellow industry colleagues who are championing their success.
Resident Evil Devs Form New Studio and Confirm Upcoming Game for Steam and Switch
Birdkin Studio included an image in their new game announcement, showing a white-haired character in a purple outfit standing on a platform in front of mountains and a giant red heart. The character was also carrying a gold lamp on their head as a blue bird flew above, and the Twitter community immediately drew comparisons to Aladdin. Other Twitter users noted the game’s similarity to the Megpoid (voice synthesizer software) mascot Gumi, and the studio’s new fans were excited to see more. Thanks to its chibi, 8-bit style, perhaps the studio’s debut game can eventually join the list of the best retro-style games on Steam.
The horror community treasures the music from Capcom’s series, even though some Resident Evil fans want a more dynamic music system in future titles like Dead Space. However, Hideaki and Saori have gained a following of their own, and it is a testament to their significant work on one of the publisher’s most iconic IPs. Noting on Twitter, the couple’s goal through Birdkin Studio is to “release games that make life fun”, and the gaming community is on board.
Resident Evil is a long-running survival horror franchise developed by Capcom. Spread across numerous mainline and spin-off entries, the series is known for it’s third and first-person action horror, zombie-related monsters and references, and challenging puzzles.
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