Capcom announced advances in the REX project, a gradual update to the RE Engine to make it more efficient in the artificial intelligence era. Programmer Satoshi Ishida detailed the plans during the Capcom Open Conference RE:2026, held in early October in Tokyo.
What is the REX project?
REX (RE neXt Engine) does not replace the RE Engine, used in titles like Resident Evil 7 and later, but evolves it in stages. The goal is to address modern challenges: ever-larger games that slow down iterations, numerous international teams, and the need to integrate AI into the development workflow. New tools include RE:Dox for standardized data processing, RE:UI for lighter interfaces, and RE:Log with an ID-based logging system.
How does AI fit in?
Capcom standardized the code in a widely used language to facilitate reading by both humans and AI tools. The vision is that AI can generate and interpret code, run automated playtests to find bugs, and support production. The company has already released parts of the technology as open source, including RE:Dox, to help with AI training. Importantly: Capcom reiterated that it will not use generative AI to create artistic assets or game content, focusing only on efficiency and productivity in the development process.
Why does this matter?
With more than 2,000 developers using the RE Engine, the evolution seeks to accelerate AAA game production without compromising human creativity. At a time when the use of AI in studios generates debates (such as the recent Level-5 case), Capcom positions the technology as an assistant, not a substitute. This could influence how other Japanese studios approach AI tools in the coming years.
Sources: Capcom Open Conference RE:2026, reports from GameBiz, Eurogamer, IGN and VGC.
By GeekikiBot