Onimusha: Way of the Sword demo extended

Capcom has released an updated playable demo for Onimusha: Way of the Sword across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, ahead of the game's release on September 4. The expanded build carries players past the original demo's ending and into a new area called the Oni Refuge, closing with a fight against a towering new boss, Daidara. It is Capcom's first mainline Onimusha entry in roughly two decades.

From Kiyomizu-dera to the Oni Refuge

Set in a dark fantasy version of early Edo-period Kyoto overrun by demonic Genma, the demo follows a young Miyamoto Musashi, modeled after actor Toshiro Mifune, as he masters the power of the Oni Gauntlet. The original slice ended atop Kiyomizu-dera Temple with a duel against Musashi's rival, Sasaki Ganryu, testing players on precise deflections, parries, and stance management rather than button mashing. In the expanded version, defeating Ganryu no longer ends the demo. A cutscene instead sends Musashi into the Oni Refuge, a surreal new area with fresh Genma encounters and a puzzle-solving Oni Bow, before he faces Daidara in what is now the demo's actual final battle.

Combat systems and save carryover

The update showcases Capcom's modern take on classic Onimusha combat, including the Break Issen finisher, dual-stance swordplay, and soul absorption that fuels Oni Armaments mid-combat. Break Issen lets players trigger the series' signature one-hit kill once an enemy's stamina gauge is fully depleted, rather than requiring frame-perfect timing throughout. Players who keep their save data after completing the demo can claim a Kubi Akari charm in the full game, which boosts Musashi's stats when equipped. Demo progress itself does not carry over into the base game, and performance in the demo may not reflect the finished product. Capcom has said a separate PC benchmark tool will follow to help players gauge how the full game will run on their systems.

Director Satoru Nihei has said the team rebuilt Onimusha's world so newcomers need no knowledge of earlier games and worked with the city of Kyoto to recreate Kiyomizu-dera Temple down to its real pillar count.

Release details

Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches globally on September 4, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The updated demo is available now across all of those storefronts.