Mega Man creator criticizes industry for clinging to past glories

The veteran Keiji Inafune, known for his work on the creation of Mega Man, issued a critique to the game industry, arguing that creators should not "solely live off past glories" by repeatedly releasing new games in established series. This stance raises a critical point about the lack of innovation and the defensive stance that permeates the sector.

In a recent presentation in South Korea, Inafune sought to clarify his critique, stating that the continuity of series is not inherently negative, but is insufficient for creative growth:

“I want to clarify, it's not that games that continue series or are built upon a famous genre are bad. What I mean is that only that is not enough,”

The designer argued that success can become an "enormous burden", leading many to cling to the winning formula and adopt a defensive stance: “I've seen many people cling only to past successes. They cling to the way things were done back then and adopt a defensive stance.”

For Inafune, the desire to discover something new and fresh should be a driving force for creators. He acknowledged the role of previous success as a foundation of confidence, but warned that "few people can succeed repeatedly" if they do not seek innovation.

“If you create a success, yes, you have success, but it can also be an enormous burden on you. Does success always seem like a good thing? It is good. You cannot succeed if you are in a state of anxiety, you need confidence and that confidence needs a base. A previous success can provide you with that base.”

Inafune expressed pride in having his name on various works besides Mega Man, citing Lost Planet, Onimusha, and Dead Rising, which demonstrates his own aversion to being stuck to a single creation. He concluded that in the 90s, creating something new was naturally expected, but today it's the new games in famous series that enjoy privilege in the industry.

The creator of Mega Man, Keiji Inafune, criticized the industry for clinging to past successes, arguing in a presentation in South Korea that the continuity of famous series is not enough. Inafune, who contributed to Lost Planet, Onimusha, and Dead Rising, argues that success can be an "enormous burden" that hinders innovation, contrasting with the 90s, when creating something new was expected by creators.