The idea that Capcom would be remaking Resident Evil 4 was bittersweet for many fans. Some fans are entrenched in the unique nostalgia that the original game has, while some fans have been excited by the direction of Capcom’s modern Resident Evil remakes. Thankfully, gameplay shown from the Resident Evil 4 remake has seemed to quell any concerns about whether it would be faithfully adapting the original. The remake has new mechanics to substitute QTE interactions, but it still seems to maintain the original’s essential atmosphere and tone.
It was recently revealed that this faithfulness also extends to the original Resident Evil 4’s third act island chapter. However, it is possible that its contents may be changed or improved in ways that fans do not expect, similarly to how the previous sections of the remake will likely be. Since then, a casting list found online seemed to suggest that a role is included in the remake for Resident Evil’s Albert Wesker. If true, this antagonist being involved in the Resident Evil 4 remake could indicate that a fan-favorite mode is returning and that other long-awaited remakes could be in the works.
Resident Evil 4’s Rumored Wesker Appearance Has a Couple Implications
Firstly, this rumored casting would suggest that Resident Evil 4 remake does indeed have a Mercenaries mode. There is currently no official confirmation of the Resident Evil 4 remake featuring Mercenaries, though it would not be surprising if it was announced between now and the game’s launch. The original Resident Evil 4 features a Mercenaries mode, where Leon S. Kennedy, Ada Wong, Jack Krauser, HUNK, and Albert Wesker are playable, and because Resident Evil Village has its own Mercenaries mode, it would only make sense for the Resident Evil 4 remake to have one too.
Still, it could be possible that the casting rumor is untrue, at which point the possibility of a Mercenaries mode would not be affected. There could be a Mercenaries mode in the remake that simply does not feature Wesker, or there might not be such a mode at all. Interestingly, though, the idea that the remake could feature a modern redesign of Wesker with PS5 fidelity could also signify that plans for a Resident Evil 5 remake are in the pipeline as well.
History suggests that RE5 will be Capcom’s next game to reimagine, seeing as how it has remade each numbered, mainline entry since Resident Evil 2. Because Wesker is the primary antagonist in Resident Evil 5, the character’s inclusion in the Resident Evil 4 remake could be an explicit clue that the franchise is headed in that direction.
Wesker Could Allude to a Resident Evil Code: Veronica Remake
Ironically, this fleeting rumor of Albert Wesker being in the Resident Evil 4 remake has arrived soon after an unofficial fan remake of Resident Evil Code: Veronica received cease-and-desist letters from Capcom. Some to believe that this was done because Capcom will soon reveal an official Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake. The timing for this would be a little strange, since the game originally released before Resident Evil 4, but Capcom doesn't necessarily need to follow the original release chronology for its remakes. It is a fair theory for fans to cling to, and if the casting of a reimagined Albert Wesker is true, then that could potentially be great news for fans of both Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica.
Remakes of both or either of these games would be fantastic, but of course it must be mentioned that there is also a chance that Wesker appearing could not allude to anything. Claire was given a modern character model for the Resident Evil 2 remake, for example, but there has since been no announcement or confirmation of a Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake since.
Resident Evil 4 is scheduled to release on March 24 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.