Resident Evil and Evil Within Creator Shinji Mikami Says Watching Beats Playing Only When Developers Fail

There are several reasons why players choose to watch video game playthroughs on various streaming platforms instead of playing the games themselves. Most often, this is because many people simply cannot afford an expensive console or a powerful PC, so they resort to enjoying games in this way. However, Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil and The Evil Within franchises, has his own perspective on the matter—and it certainly gives one something to think about.

Recently, well-known Japanese streamer Eiko Kano spoke with the publication Nikkan, where he was asked about his playthroughs of Resident Evil games. The context is important: when releasing his videos, he was concerned that they might discourage players from actually playing Capcom’s games, even though Kano had official permission from the studio. During the conversation, he revealed that he had personally spoken with Shinji Mikami, the game director, and asked him what he thought about players watching gameplay on YouTube and Twitch instead of playing the games themselves. According to Mikami, developers should design games so that even after watching someone else’s playthrough, players can still have a unique and personal experience. The highlights from Kano’s words about Mikami’s relation you can check out below:

“If viewers watch a playthrough of a game all the way to the end and are satisfied with just that, then it was only that good of a game. Our job is to make games that leave people wanting to clear them with their own hands, even if they’ve watched someone else do it, so keep streaming”

Nevertheless, the experience of watching a game can actually be useful. At the very least, players can gauge how well the game meets their expectations, assess the quality of its gameplay, and identify potential performance issues. This insight can be a deciding factor when considering a purchase, especially if the game is a new intellectual property. In any case, the opinion of a specialist like Shinji Mikami, who has contributed to the creation of many great games, certainly carries weight.

Do you agree with Shinji Mikami's views on choosing to watch games being played on streams rather than playing them yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments below!