Capcom files new trademarks for Darkstalkers and Power Stone

Capcom has filed new trademarks for classic franchises like Darkstalkers, Power Stone, and Dino Crisis. Could the developer be planning a classics collection or brand new games on each franchise?

Capcom possesses one of the greatest video game libraries, but following the likes of Sega, they've been left to gather dust in our memories. The developer's decision to trademark so many of these dormant IPs could mean we're getting a collection of games from the golden years. That's 50 trademarks that could fit into one or multiple compilations. 

However, there's another possibility. Capcom could be planning entirely new titles for some or all of them. This idea has me excited the most because it would mean revisiting these fan-favorites but gaining new experiences altogether. We're talking Cyberbots, Bionic Commando, and more. Most of these games haven't seen a new release since the 90's on arcade or the original PlayStation. 

For fighting game fans, we're looking at not just Darkstalkers and Power Stone but also Capcom Fighting Jam, Puzzle Fighter, Pocket Fighter, War-Zard, and Super Gem Fighter Minimix. There are games on the list that are even older than the first PlayStation. Those that have appeared in collections before will likely do so again on the upcoming PlayStation 5.

All the trademark applications were filed under game program and game software except for three of them. Capcom could have filed the trademarks to hold onto the names, which means we've all got our hopes up for nothing, so let's ignore that possibility for now. 

Street Fighter executive producer Yoshinori Ono has shared his desire to revive Darkstalkers on multiple occasions, so that gives us some hope at least for one game on the list. There's also the success of Resident Evil 2 Remake and the great reception Resident Evil 3 Remake has received. It makes sense to try something similar to other Capcom games, especially those in different genres. 

According to Chizai-Watch, the trademarks were filed on November 29, 2019, and made public record in Japan on December 17, 2019. The company specializes in tracking new trademarks and patents.

Whatever Capcom is planning, it was great to revisit these old games, even though it was only in our fond memories of them. If Capcom truly does have plans for these games, we may not receive official confirmation until several months from now when they should have begun development. Here's hoping we aren't left disappointed.