What Does the Future of Resident Evil Look Like?

As a die-hard fan of the Resident Evil franchise since the original game graced our PlayStations back in 1996, I can confidently say that the latest news about the series has me absolutely thrilled! With rumors swirling about not one, not two, but three new entries and several remakes in the works, it feels like Christmas came early for us RE fans.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m right smack in the middle of a golden era for Resident Evil! Ever since RE7 revitalized the franchise in 2017, Capcom’s survival horror masterpiece has been churning out one classic after another. Whether they’re remakes or new installments, everything Resident Evil touches these days seems to turn into gold. So it’s only natural that there’s always a buzz and anticipation about what lies ahead for this legendary series.

Of course, that’s something that we currently don’t have a ton of concrete details on. We can obviously take for granted the fact that Capcom has multiple Resident Evil games in the works and lined up for release over the coming years- that much would be obvious even in the absence of any communication whatsoever from the company itself. But the exact nature of those plans is something that we don’t yet know much about. As ever though, we do have leaks and rumours to fall back on.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been buzzing with excitement lately, hearing whispers that Capcom is indeed brewing up more than one Resident Evil game at once! The reliable insider, Dusk Golem (also known as AestheticGamer), dropped this bombshell earlier in the year. If his leak is anything to go by, we might be looking at as many as five new Resident Evil games! And get this – while I can’t reveal all of them just yet, I do know what at least three of these upcoming games will be.

It’s not surprising that the upcoming mainline installment in the Resident Evil series, tentatively known as Resident Evil 9, is rumored to incorporate the advanced open-world technology of the RE Engine (now boosted by Dragon’s Dogma 2). This could potentially result in a broader and more immersive gaming experience compared to its predecessors. Also, it is said that this game has the largest development budget and longest development cycle ever for a Resident Evil game. However, there are conflicting reports about the return of popular characters Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine as co-protagonists. Until Capcom officially confirms these details, we’ll have to wait for more definite information.

It’s uncertain when exactly Resident Evil 9 will be released, but given Capcom’s consistent pattern of releasing a new Resident Evil game or DLC each year (with exceptions in 2018 and 2024), we would typically expect RE9 in 2025. However, since Monster Hunter Wilds is set to launch early next year as Capcom’s main release, it seems likely that RE9 will be released later in the year. Previous Resident Evil entries have often been launched in the first half of the year, but there’s a possibility that RE9 could break this trend. At the earliest, we can expect the game to release by the first quarter of 2026, so while we may still have a wait for more details, it won’t be an endless one.

What Does the Future of Resident Evil Look Like?

It’s not surprising to learn that more remakes of the popular Resident Evil series are rumored to be underway. The remakes have been incredibly successful, garnering praise from critics and audiences alike. What could come as a shock is which games Capcom might choose to remake. Many expected Resident Evil 5 to be next, while some even speculated that the original Resident Evil could receive another remake, this time using the RE Engine for a third-person, modernized interpretation.

It’s been mentioned by Dusk Golem earlier this year that neither Resident Evil 2 nor 3 are getting remade, but instead, it seems Capcom is working on remakes for Resident Evil: Code – Veronica and Resident Evil Zero. The idea of a revamped Code – Veronica has been a long-standing wish among fans, and while RE0 might not be everyone’s favorite, there are many who believe it deserves an upgrade to shine again. So, the news of these two remakes is definitely intriguing, especially given how unexpected it feels!

It’s worth noting that contrary to what one might expect, Capcom isn’t directly managing the remake of the game “Zero.” Instead, it seems external teams K2 and M-Two are spearheading this project, with Capcom serving as the overseer. For those who aren’t familiar, these were the same teams responsible for the remake of “Resident Evil 3,” a game that has faced some criticism compared to most other modern “Resident Evil” titles. This might raise some eyebrows about what this could mean for the quality of the “Zero” remake.

What Does the Future of Resident Evil Look Like?

Besides the three Resident Evil games we’ve discussed, the identities of the remaining ones are shrouded in mystery. It’s plausible that work on the next mainline Resident Evil game, following RE9, may have already begun since rumors suggest that RE9 has been in development since 2018, well before even Village was released. However, this is speculation at best as there is no official confirmation about it. Regarding RE9, Code – Veronica, and Zero, these are also unconfirmed rumors, which while not entirely accurate, are slightly more reliable than pure guesswork. In the absence of official information, this speculation is better than making assumptions.

What’s exciting about Resident Evil right now is that it seems like Capcom has a vast treasure trove of past material and new ideas to dive into for future instalments. Where new entries are concerned, given the series’ vast web of narrative threads, characters, settings, and flavours, it feels like there’s so much a new Resident Evil could do, while in the remake department, Capcom clearly won’t be running out of games to remake and improve anytime soon. That RE5 remake is an inevitability, even if it’s not being made right now, and we’d bet that another RE1 remake will eventually happen as well. Can we maybe also expect a Resident Evil 6 remake down the line? That remains to be seen, but the fact that it’s a possibility, and the fact that even a game as disastrous as RE6 would make for an exciting remake in this age of Resident Evil, tells you all you need to know about the excellent shape the beloved horror franchise currently finds itself in.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

2024-12-16 04:41

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