Resident Evil 9 leak says it was an open-world multiplayer game at first, so I’m glad it allegedly got “a pretty heavy reboot”

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Although Capcom hasn’t publicly announced the next installment of Resident Evil (assumedly Resident Evil 9), there has been a lot of speculation about its storyline, setting, and structure for quite some time online. Recently, a new leak hints that the game might have had a significantly different feel compared to other titles in the iconic horror series at one point.

The information originates from Dusk Golem, a reputable source within Capcom, who recently discussed this in posts on social media. According to their claims, Resident Evil 9 originally started as a large, open-world multiplayer game. Initially, Capcom intended it to be the polar opposite of Resident Evil 7’s linear single-player experience, which had disappointing sales figures upon its initial release, leading them to reconsider the format for this sequel.

Initially, development for Resident Evil 9 began in 2017, primarily as a response to Resident Evil 7 underperforming at its launch relative to Capcom’s targets. Although Resident Evil 7 subsequently saw strong sales growth, this decision was made somewhat reactively. The original concept of RE9 aimed to be the polar opposite of RE7, envisioning a large-scale, open-world multiplayer game instead.

As a researcher delving into the intricacies of Resident Evil 9 (RE9), I’ve noticed that much of the information shared about it is based on an earlier abandoned prototype, which was leaked approximately a year ago. Interestingly, RE9’s development officially commenced in early 2017, following a less-than-satisfactory launch performance of Resident Evil 7 (RE7) as perceived by Capcom in May 2017.

After the success of Resident Evil 7, Capcom significantly revamped their plans for Resident Evil 9, which was underway near the release of Resident Evil Village in 2021. One aspect that remained consistent from the original idea is that Leon Kennedy, a popular character featured in Resident Evil 2, 4, and 6, continues to be the main character.

Originally, RE9 was set on an island inspired by Singapore, featuring characters Leon and Jill. However, this is the previous version of RE9; the game underwent a significant overhaul in 2021, around the release of Village. Despite the changes, Leon remains the central character. Capcom will unveil the rest, as I prefer to hint rather than reveal too much about scrapped games. I find such details intriguing.

When can we expect Capcom to officially announce Resident Evil 9? It’s difficult to predict with certainty, but some speculate that there might be an announcement in 2025, followed by a release in 2026. If this timeline holds, Summer Games Fest on June 6 could be the ideal time for the announcement; it’s worth mentioning that fans suspect they found an “IX” teaser hinting at Resident Evil 9 within the Resident Evil 4 Remake video posted in late April, which aligns with this theory.

It seems Dusk Golem didn’t share details on how Resident Evil 9 was remade, but considering the triumph of Resident Evil 7 and the immediate popularity of Resident Evil Village, it appears they might have revamped it into another single-player game. If that’s true, I’m pleased with the decision.

I generally welcome studios experimenting with fresh concepts in established franchises; however, for the Resident Evil series, I’d prefer it to stay closer to its original themes. There aren’t many outstanding single-player horror games around these days, and Resident Evil is one of the few that has managed to deliver consistently high-quality experiences recently. Not to mention, we’re all familiar with how the last Resident Evil multiplayer endeavor fared.

In addition to Resident Evil Village incorporating elements of nonlinearity through optional locations, secret passages, and more open-ended zones, I’d appreciate Capcom continuing to delve into that semi-linear style for single-player experiences before venturing into a complete overhaul with an open world and multiplayer gameplay. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments if you concur or have a different perspective.

It’s important to mention that although Resident Evil Village, the most recent installment in the series, typically retails for $40, you can currently purchase it for only $14.99 on PC from CDKeys due to a discount. Additionally, the linked console versions also have sales going on.

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2025-05-23 23:39