Capcom Confirms It Has a Long-Term Plan for Resident Evil Remakes Beyond the Original Games

Capcom has revealed that it is already planning for the day when its acclaimed Resident Evil remake series catches up with the newest numbered entries in the franchise, acknowledging that the studio’s run of remaking classic horror games cannot continue indefinitely. Jun Takeuchi, a Capcom veteran who has served as executive producer for the series over the past decade, addressed the question directly in the just-released Biohazard 30th anniversary special magazine book now available in Japan, confirming that the studio has been “gradually preparing” for this moment since around Resident Evil Village.

The publisher has already remade Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 to tremendous commercial and critical success, with a new version of Resident Evil Code Veronica slated for release next year. Reports have also suggested that a Resident Evil 0 remake will follow in 2028, and that a Resident Evil 1 remake has been considered. Of the mainline numbered titles, this would then leave only Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 as the remaining candidates for a remake treatment.

Two Tracks of Development

While Capcom likely has enough established remakes to keep its release schedule going for another decade, there will inevitably come a point where the publisher must decide whether to remake other titles, restart the remake cycle all over again, or pursue an entirely different creative direction. Takeuchi teased that the studio is thinking carefully about this future, noting that the current Resident Evil series is being developed along two distinct tracks.

“Someday, the remake series will catch up with the era of the numbered titles, and we are already thinking about what we will do when that happens. In fact, we have been gradually preparing for that since around Resident Evil Village. The appearance of names such as Umbrella and Spencer, as well as the return of Raccoon City in Requiem, are also in preparation for a ‘crossover’.”

Jun Takeuchi, Capcom Executive Producer

Takeuchi explained that the studio initially incorporated these callbacks with the intention of providing fan service, but that the community’s enthusiastic response pushed the development team to lean further into the shared continuity. He noted that players were far more delighted by these elements than the team had imagined, and that fans began analyzing the development team’s privately held ideas. As a result, the studio decided to respond to those expectations and pushed the setup further in both Village and the upcoming Requiem.

A Turning Point for the Series

The executive producer also stated that Capcom regarded Resident Evil 7 as a turning point for the series, as it was in development when the studio’s plans to start remaking older games truly came to fruition. This framing raises an interesting question about which titles fall on either side of the remake threshold, though it does not necessarily mean that everything before Resident Evil 7 is destined for a remake while entries from 7 onward are considered too new.

Resident Evil 5 sold hugely well, buoyed by particular interest following the top-rated Resident Evil 4, even though the game itself fell short of its predecessor’s quality. Any new version would see Capcom returning to the controversy surrounding the game’s African setting and companion character Sheva. Resident Evil 6, which featured a range of protagonists, is widely regarded as one of the weaker entries in the series, though a fresh remake treatment could potentially salvage its ambitious concept.

Perhaps more intriguing is Capcom’s suggestion that it is using its remakes to seed ideas that it will later pick up again in newer titles, once that crossover point eventually arrives. After 30 years, the franchise has accumulated a vast amount of lore, and revisiting early entries through remakes allows both longtime fans and newcomers to reconnect with the series’ rich history.

Looking Ahead

For now, all of this long-term planning remains a considerable time off, and there is plenty to look forward to in the near term. The promising-looking Resident Evil Code Veronica is next on the docket, with Capcom having already fielded questions from the press about the upcoming release. As the remake series continues to draw in new audiences, the studio’s careful groundwork suggests that the Resident Evil universe is set to expand in exciting ways well beyond its classic origins.