Capcom's Resident Evil franchise continues to elevate itself higher and higher on the gaming pantheon of all-time greats. Over the past few years, the creative team behind the landmark survival horror franchise has hit nothing but net, with stellar new installments such as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and brilliant reimaginings of older titles like Resident Evil 4. With so much success already in the bag, it's not surprising that this franchise will be around for years to come and that the studio likely had a number of projects in development in order to capitalize on the series' continued success.
In fact, there is a semi-confirmation of numerous Resident Evil games in various stages of development. In 2021, there was a leaked document detailing a list of alleged games in the Resident Evil series to be released in the future. Naturally, leaks and rumors should always be taken with a grain of salt, however as time went on, the details in the document became more credible. One of the most notable games in this document was the recently released Resident Evil 4 remake, retroactively proving that it may have been valid. Two other games on that list are named 'Biohazard Apocalypse' and 'Resident Evil Hank'.
What is Resident Evil Hank?
First up is Resident Evil Hank, which according to the aforementioned leak isn't due out for release until Q4 2024. If true, this places it even further into the current console generation. Based on what Capcom has already pulled off with its RE Engine in Resident Evil Village, the graphics will surely be outstanding and at the top of the game in the industry. It allegedly being a 2024 title also lines up with how Capcom seems to have scheduled the Resident Evil release lineup so far, aiming for at least one major installment roughly every two years or so.
One extremely puzzling aspect of the rumored game is its title. The name 'Hank' seems to be referring to the main character of the game. The funny thing is that there is no major character in the Resident Evil franchise named Hank. It's possible that this is simply a typo, and that while creating the document that was eventually leaked, someone accidentally and absurdly wrote 'Hank' instead of 'Hunk'. Hunk is a longtime fan-favorite character, a masked mercenary who has appeared in multiple installments. Despite his popularity, little is known about the character. If this rumored project is real, it will hopefully provide more info on his origin or backstory.
What is Biohazard Apocalypse?
As for the true nature of Biohazard Apocalypse, it's anyone's guess what the game actually is. Next to nothing is known about this game outside its rumored existence and supposed name, barely leaving any breadcrumbs for fans to follow. However, for speculation's sake, a few educated guesses can be made at this time. Firstly, 'Biohazard' is the name of the Resident Evil franchise in Japan and could be a whole new spin-off entry. Resident Evil is immensely popular worldwide, and while this title could still stand true in Japan, it would almost assuredly be called Resident Evil Apocalypse in the West.
There is also a chance that this is the codename for the next mainline Resident Evil installment. A ninth game isn't a question of if, but a matter of when, as Capcom will want to keep the ball rolling on its bread-and-butter franchise. Further, supporting this, last year a leak for Resident Evil 9 claimed that its working title is 'Apocalypse'. Even more, leaks hint at grotesque enemies and a world on the brink of disaster, which would tie in very closely with this rumored subtitle.