Capcom's Resident Evil 4 is widely considered to be one of the best video games ever made, earning incredible review scores, selling millions of copies, and changing the direction of the survival-horror series, for better or worse. Considering Resident Evil 4's incredible popularity, it's no surprise Capcom has tried to make the game available on as many platforms as possible, resulting in an almost comical number of ports, re-releases, and remasters.
For Resident Evil 4's next release, Capcom is taking things a step further, producing a full-blown remake of the classic game that's looking to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X on March 24, 2023. Very little has been shown of the Resident Evil 4 remake so far, but more information should come to light in the months ahead.
While fans wait to learn more about the Resident Evil 4 remake, they may want to revisit the original game. As it so happens, they have around 10 different versions to check out, so here are all the times Resident Evil 4 was released, re-released, or remastered, and what each version of the game brought to the table.
Resident Evil 4 (GameCube - January 2005)
The Resident Evil 4 that started it all was the original GameCube release in January 2005. This version of the game has less content than its successors, as new modes and other features were added in later ports, but it's still a tremendous experience. Some even prefer this version of Resident Evil 4 because of the controls, as the game was clearly built with the GameCube controller in mind, and some can find it hard adjusting to other input methods.
Resident Evil 4 (PlayStation 2 - October 2005)
Resident Evil 4 director Shinji Mikami infamously said that he would rather cut his head off than see Resident Evil 4 ported to other platforms, but it didn't take long for the game to make its way to PlayStation 2. In fact, PlayStation 2 gamers didn't even have to wait a full calendar year to play Resident Evil 4 for themselves. The PlayStation 2 port of Resident Evil 4 included new content, most notably the Separate Ways campaign, which added more story content starring Ada Wong. RE4 on PS2 itself enjoyed multiple versions and re-releases, including special and collector's editions.
Resident Evil 4 (PC - May 2007)
A couple of years after Resident Evil 4 graced the PlayStation 2, the survival-horror classic made its way to PC. The PC port was developed by Sourcenext and originally released in Hong Kong, but it was eventually brought to the rest of the world, bizarrely enough, thanks to Ubisoft. The PC version of Resident Evil 4 featured all the new content that was added in the PlayStation 2 version of the game, like the Separate Ways campaign, along with more customization options common to PC games.
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii - June 2007)
In 2006, Nintendo launched its revolutionary Wii console, boasting innovative motion controls and becoming one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time. Capcom capitalized on the Wii's popularity by launching Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, which let players aim with the Wii remote and complete QTE actions using motion controls. It also gave Nintendo gamers the chance to experience the content that was added in the PS2 and PC versions. Many consider Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition to be the best version of the original Resident Evil 4, with the Wii remote aiming a particularly popular feature.
Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition (iOS - July 2009/Zeebo - August 2009/iPad - April 2010)
Not content with releasing Resident Evil 4 on traditional gaming consoles, Capcom then brought the game to mobile devices as Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition. This version of Resident Evil 4 was released for iOS and Zeebo, with versions available for iPhones and eventually iPads. This version of Resident Evil 4 features some changes when compared to the other releases to make it a more linear and arcade-like experience. It's not the best way to experience Leon S. Kennedy's harrowing adventure, but it is an option for those that want to play the game on the go.
Resident Evil 4 HD (PS3/Xbox 360 - September 2011)
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles provided Capcom with an opportunity to re-release Resident Evil 4 yet again, but with some worthwhile visual upgrades to convince those who already played the game extensively to double-dip, so to speak. Resident Evil 4 HD launched as a digital-only title for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. Resident Evil 4 HD is basically the same as the previous versions of the game, but with high-definition graphics and achievement/trophy support.
Resident Evil 4 (Android - April 2013)
Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition remained exclusive to iOS and Zeebo for a few years, but Capcom eventually brought the game to Android devices as well. The catch is that the Android version of Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition has limited availability outside of Japan. Those interested in playing it in North America can only do so on a Samsung Galaxy device. This exclusivity has remained in effect to this day and at this point it seems unlikely to change.
Resident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition (PC - February 2014)
In February 2014, Capcom released a new version of Resident Evil 4 on PC that incorporated the improvements found in Resident Evil 4 HD called Resident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition. There's nothing else of note about this version of the game.
Resident Evil 4 (PS4/Xbox One - August 2016)
In 2013, Sony and Microsoft released the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, respectively, and so Capcom decided to re-release Resident Evil 4 yet again. Dropping the "HD" moniker, this version of Resident Evil 4 is nevertheless effectively the same version of the game that released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2011.
Resident Evil 4 (Nintendo Switch - May 2019)
For the longest time, the only way Resident Evil 4 fans could play the game on the go was through one of the mobile versions, but now they can do so on the Nintendo Switch. Resident Evil 4 on the Nintendo Switch is arguably one of the most worthwhile ports for that reason alone, as it provides the best handheld RE4 experience.
Resident Evil 4 VR (Oculus Quest 2 - October 2021)
To date, the version of Resident Evil 4 with the most substantial differences from the original is easily Resident Evil 4 VR, which released as an Oculus Quest 2 exclusive game in October of last year. Resident Evil 4 VR abandons the game's iconic third-person, over-the-shoulder camera for a first-person perspective, completely changing combat encounters, gameplay scenarios, and more. It's a genuinely different way to experience Resident Evil 4, and it also happens to be one of the best virtual reality games on the market.
While Resident Evil 4 VR is a blast to play, it does have some drawbacks when compared to other versions of the game, as it's lacking some of the bonus content. However, Resident Evil 4 VR has been updated since release to add that content back into the experience, along with unique features exclusive to the VR version.
Resident Evil 4 Remake (PC/PS5/Xbox Series X - March 2023)
And finally, Capcom will be releasing an extensive Resident Evil 4 remake on March 24, 2023. Resident Evil 4 remake gameplay is hard to come by at this point, but fans can expect Capcom to share more information on the game at gaming events in the months ahead.
