In the three years since Ethan Winters faced the mutant residents of Resident Evil Village, Capcom has delivered a string of masterful remakes from the zombie horror franchise, but now it’s time for something new.
The Japanese developer has announced that a brand new Resident Evil game is in the works from the series’ veteran director, Koshi Nakanishi, who previously worked on 2017’s Resident Evil 7.
Capcom broke the news during the Capcom Next 2024 games showcase but, agonisingly for fans, it didn’t reveal the new instalment’s title.
"We're making a new Resident Evil. It was really difficult to figure out what to do after [Resident Evil] 7," Nakanishi said during the presentation, adding: "But I found it, and to be honest, it feels substantial." He also said that he would share more info on the new game in due time.
Although Nakanishi didn’t utter the words Resident Evil 9, that’s what many fans will be expecting the new game to be.
Resident Evil 9 gameplay
Rumour has it the new title will follow the more action-oriented approach of Village, but may boast a more open world compared to previous entries, with Capcom utilising the tech behind game-of-the-year contender Dragon’s Dogma 2 to bring it to life. The setting could be a Singapore-style island in Southeast Asia.
Much of the unconfirmed info has come from a social media account called Dusk Golem, who is a prolific leaker in the gaming community known for sharing news about upcoming horror games.
Resident Evil 9 release date
Dusk Golem has also suggested that Resident Evil 9 has been pushed back till late 2025-2026 from its initial release date of next January. In the meantime, virtual zombie slayers can check out Capcom’s Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, which arrives with a new sheen fit for modern consoles and PCs, on September 19.
Aside from the critically-acclaimed Resident Evil 7, Nakanishi’s repertoire includes design work on Resident Evil 5 and directing duties on Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and Resident Evil Revelations.
One thing's for sure: after the success of the recent remakes, expectations are high for this next chapter in the iconic horror franchise.
