Capcom Finally Confirms What Resident Evil Fans Have Known for Years

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The Resident Evil series is a classic in the horror genre, but it hasn’t always succeeded when trying new gameplay approaches. From the very first game in 1996, Resident Evil excelled at creating a terrifying and isolating survival-horror experience, often throwing players into overwhelming situations with monsters and enemies. The most successful Resident Evil games are those that truly scare players by focusing on core horror principles.

Capcom has tried several times to create games focused on multiplayer, but these attempts haven’t been very successful. That’s why the recent announcement about the new Resident Evil Requiem is so interesting – the game is moving away from multiplayer features and going back to a more classic Resident Evil style, which is great news for fans.

Resident Evil Requiem Was Almost A Multiplayer Game

Masato Kumazawa, producer of the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, shared that the ninth main Resident Evil game started as a very different project – an open-world multiplayer experience. He told Press Start Australia that development began six years ago, with a planned release in February 2026. While the multiplayer gameplay was fun, the team decided it didn’t fit the feel of a traditional Resident Evil game.

The team realized that while the multiplayer version was enjoyable, it significantly reduced the horror element of the game. They questioned whether longtime fans would appreciate this change and ultimately decided to revert to a single-player experience. However, they didn’t want to lose the fun they’d created, so they incorporated elements from the multiplayer build into the final game. The developers believe fans primarily want a truly scary survival horror experience, and simply adding new features to the existing game wouldn’t deliver that. They wanted to ensure the final product genuinely satisfied fans’ expectations for a frightening and immersive experience.

Kumazawa shared that the new game will feature gameplay elements more akin to a classic, single-player experience. Considering the recent success of games like Biohazard and Village, it’s surprising they’d move towards multiplayer. Resident Evil has attempted multiplayer before, and it wasn’t successful, which makes this shift even more unexpected.

Resident Evil’s Multiplayer Past Hasn’t Worked Out

The Resident Evil series has always been designed for a solo experience, and adding multiplayer has proven difficult. The scary atmosphere and surprising events work best when you’re facing the zombies alone. Having other players join can lessen the feeling of dread. Capcom has repeatedly tried to create successful multiplayer Resident Evil games, but hasn’t quite managed it. The co-op modes in more action-focused games like Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 highlight this issue – having allies who can help often reduces the tension and fear.

Look, I’ve played a lot of Resident Evil, and Resident Evil 5 just didn’t scare me like the others. It felt way too easy because you always had a partner covering you, taking away that real sense of tension. It’s like the game was holding my hand the whole time. And honestly, the online stuff hasn’t been great either. The ‘Mercenaries’ modes are okay for a bit of fun, but they don’t really compare to games built from the ground up for competitive shooting – they just feel a little shallow when you stack them up against the big names.

Several attempts to create multiplayer experiences within the Resident Evil universe haven’t quite succeeded. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City had weak overall design, while Resident Evil Outbreak from 2004, which let players team up, was held back by uninspired levels and forgettable gameplay. More recent ideas like Resident Evil: Resistance and Resident Evil Re:Verse also faced challenges, struggling to stand out in the crowded multiplayer market and failing to gain a dedicated player base.

Why Resident Evil Shouldn’t Be Multiplayer

Horror games can be difficult to get right. Some, like Dead by Daylight, Phasmophobia, and Left 4 Dead, successfully combine scares with multiplayer fun. However, horror often works best as a single-player experience. This lets developers really emphasize the feeling of loneliness and vulnerability when facing danger, fully immersing the player in a frightening, isolated world. Even having one companion can lessen that powerful feeling of being truly alone.

The most successful Resident Evil games all create a feeling of being alone and vulnerable. The original game scattered its team members throughout the Spencer Mansion, forcing players to explore on their own. Resident Evil 4 immediately isolates the player by eliminating potential allies, making them the sole hope for rescuing the President’s daughter. Both Biohazard and Village heighten the suspense and create a darker atmosphere by limiting the player’s support. Resident Evil truly shines when it’s filled with tension, giving players the difficult choice between fighting enemies and fleeing from them.

Look, I love playing with friends, but honestly, multiplayer just doesn’t fit in Resident Evil. It always messes with the scary atmosphere and makes the whole experience feel less intense. It’s pretty clear the multiplayer-focused games haven’t been the fan favorites, and for good reason! We want Resident Evil to be genuinely terrifying, not a goofy online hangout. So I’m really glad the team behind Requiem understood what we actually want – a proper, scary Resident Evil game. They got it right!

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2025-11-23 22:41