Resident Evil 7: Biohazard underwent a tumultuous development cycle that saw numerous concept changes, including early plans for more Leon Kennedy and inspiration drawn from The Last of Us, according to former Capcom manager Miguel Corti.
Corti shared details in a lengthy social media thread, revealing that the initial concept for Resident Evil 7 was not a soft reboot as the final game became. Instead, it was intended to continue the narrative established in the much-criticized Resident Evil 6. "More Leon and more Umbrella connections!" Corti wrote, noting that there were even discussions about bringing back characters like Rebecca Chambers and Jill Valentine. This approach was partly influenced by Resident Evil 6's strong sales, despite its poor critical reception.
The developers aimed for critical acclaim, and found inspiration in Naughty Dog's narrative-driven title, The Last of Us. However, the need to maintain continuity with the series' convoluted lore led to development roadblocks. The project was eventually rebooted from scratch following a reorganization at Capcom.
A New Direction for Resident Evil 7
With a new team, director, and external writer, the reimagined Resident Evil 7 shifted to a first-person perspective, a significant departure for the franchise that aligned with contemporary gaming trends. Concepts such as the isolated Baker family and the single-house setting were introduced during this phase. Corti noted that some ideas made it into the final game despite not serving the narrative, which he believes contributed to the game's sometimes disjointed story.
The dynamic between protagonists Ethan and Mia was influenced by The Last of Us's opening, where Joel loses his daughter. Capcom sought a similar emotional impact by having Ethan search for his presumed-dead wife. Corti expressed that Mia's character and backstory presented significant challenges, lacking a clear connection for the player, until a link to the broader Resident Evil franchise, specifically Umbrella, was established.
Despite eventually releasing as the successful reinvention known today, Capcom was initially disappointed with Resident Evil 7's sales figures. The game has since become a consistent top seller for the company. Corti acknowledged that many of the game's perceived flaws were recognized during development, but were often overlooked as the team worked to ensure the project's success.
Corti's recollections offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on the challenging process of revitalizing a major video game franchise, highlighting the numerous iterations and obstacles that preceded the final acclaimed product. A graphic showing Leon Kennedy from a later Resident Evil game was also presented during discussions of early Resident Evil 7 concepts.
