Highlights
- A new Resident Evil game is confirmed to be in the works.
- The project, tentatively dubbed Resident Evil 9, is being led by Resident Evil 7 director Koshi Nakanishi.
- A recent insider report that correctly predicted that the game would be announced this year claimed that Resident Evil 9 is targeting a 2025 release.
A new Resident Evil game is in development, Capcom has revealed. The move saw the Japanese gaming giant confirm long-standing speculation that the next mainline Resident Evil entry is already in the pipeline.
Rumors about the much-anticipated game, tentatively dubbed Resident Evil 9, have been circulating the industry since 2022. Back then, a leak of dubious origin claimed that Resident Evil 9 is code-named Apocalypse and has something to do with the ninth phase of the lunar cycle.
Resident Evil 9: Every Rumor So Far Explained
Resident Evil 9 still hasn't been officially confirmed by Capcom, but that hasn't stopped a mountain of rumors and leaks coming out surrounding it.
Resident Evil 9 Development Is Led by Resident Evil 7 Director
While the jury is still out on the validity of that information, the existence of the project itself is no longer in question, having just been confirmed at Capcom NEXT Summer 2024. The July 1 event saw the Japanese publisher announce that the next mainline installment in the series is indeed in the works, with its development being led by Koshi Nakanishi. The industry veteran is best known for directing Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, though he also worked on a number of other entries in the franchise, including Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D.
Reflecting on the circumstances leading up the project being given the green light, Nakanishi revealed that "it was really difficult to figure out what to do after [Resident Evil] 7," which was released back in 2017. "But I found it, and to be honest, it feels substantial," the Resident Evil 9 director said. Nakanishi avoided sharing any specifics about the project, merely saying that he hopes fans will look forward to the day he can do so.
The studio official's concise confirmation suggests that the upcoming game might end up being significantly different from its predecessors. Attempting to shake things up would be far from an unprecedented move for Capcom, as the company rarely shied away from experimenting with its flagship survival horror franchise. As to the specifics of what this innovation might entail, a well-known leaker has recently claimed that Resident Evil 9 will be an open-world game, which would be a first for the series.
It was really difficult to figure out what to do after [Resident Evil] 7. But I found it, and to be honest, it feels substantial.
Resident Evil 9 Is Reportedly Targeting a 2025 Release
Capcom's track record indicates that the upcoming game might hit the market as early as 2025, not least because the Japanese company often confirms new Resident Evil installments about a year ahead of their planned market debuts. That timeline matches one recent insider report claiming that Resident Evil 9 is targeting a 2025 release, which also correctly predicted that the game would be announced in 2024.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is a long-running survival horror franchise developed by Capcom. Spread across numerous mainline and spin-off entries, the series is known for it’s third and first-person action horror, zombie-related monsters and references, and challenging puzzles.
Summary
Capcom's survival horror franchise.
