Capcom is making strategic preparations for a future scenario where its popular Resident Evil remakes begin to align with the timeline of more recent mainline entries in the series. Jun Takeuchi, a veteran producer for the Resident Evil franchise, confirmed that the company is aware of this potential convergence and has been developing a plan to address it.
Capcom has experienced significant success with its remakes of Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4. The next remake on the horizon is Resident Evil Code Veronica, slated for release next year, followed by a reported remake of Resident Evil 0 in 2028. If remakes of Resident Evil 1, 5, and 6 are also considered, this would eventually leave only the more recent titles, starting with Resident Evil 7, as the remaining games in the series without new versions.
Takeuchi indicated that Capcom's strategic planning for this eventual overlap began around the development of Resident Evil Village. He explained that elements referencing older games and locations, such as the appearance of Umbrella, Spencer, and the return of Raccoon City in Resident Evil Re:Verse, were intentionally included. Initially conceived as fan service, these elements were met with a surprisingly enthusiastic reception from players, prompting the development team to further incorporate them into later titles like Village and Re:Verse to meet player expectations.
The company views Resident Evil 7 as a pivotal moment for the series, marking a point where its future direction began to solidify during the initial stages of planning for remakes. This suggests a potential future strategy where games released before Resident Evil 7 are candidates for remakes, while those released from Resident Evil 7 onwards might be considered too recent for such treatment.
The prospect of remaking Resident Evil 5 and 6 presents unique considerations. Resident Evil 5, a commercial success, faced controversy regarding its depiction of Africa and its companion character, Sheva. A remake could offer an opportunity to revisit and potentially alter these elements. Resident Evil 6, known for its varied protagonists, was met with a less favorable reception and could benefit from a reimagining.
More intriguingly, Capcom's approach suggests a deliberate use of its remakes to lay groundwork and introduce concepts that can be revisited in future original titles. With the Resident Evil series spanning three decades, this strategy could help maintain narrative cohesion and engage long-term fans. For the immediate future, however, the focus remains on upcoming releases, with Resident Evil Veronica being the next anticipated title.