During the CAPCOM NEXT Showcase, after the reveal of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’s pricing and key features, the studio also dropped a little bomb about Resident Evil 9. Yes, the next mainline installment in the revered survival horror franchise is officially in development.
The announcement was tied to the showcase of Resident Evil 7, which is out now on Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and every iPad and Mac with the M1 chip or later. The main game is bundled with the Not A Hero story DLC, starring franchise veteran Chris Redfield, while the optional Gold Edition upgrade allows fans to get all of the content from the other DLCs, including additional story content and game modes. The package also supports universal purchase and cross-progression, so Apple gamers can play across iPhone, iPad, and Mac and continue their save games at home or on the go. Resident Evil 7 Biohazard runs natively on Apple devices. This version also features newly optimized controls for iPhone and iPad, including an auto-fire option and fully touch-compatible menus.
The reason the announcement of Resident Evil 9 was tied to this Resident Evil 7 showcase is fairly straightforward: the new chapter in CAPCOM’s IP is being led by Koshi Nakanishi, who directed the first game in the series to switch from third-person view to first-person view. Nakanishi said:
We’re making a new Resident Evil. It was really difficult to figure out what to do after 7, but I found it, and to be honest, it feels substantial. I can’t share any details just yet, but I hope you’re excited for the day that I can.
Needless to say, speculation will now run rampant as to when exactly CAPCOM will finally show Resident Evil 9. A good option could be the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, scheduled to take place at the usual venue of Makuhari Messe between September 26 and 29. Of course, it’s also possible the game will be reserved for later shows, such as The Game Awards.
However, that would clash with rumors from CAPCOM leaker Dusk Golem that the studio may be targeting early 2025 for the launch of Resident Evil 9. If that’s the case, then TGS seems the only real option. Dusk Golem also previously said that the game would go open world, just like Monster Hunter Wilds, and he turned out to be right about CAPCOM’s other tentpole franchise.
Are you excited about getting a new Resident Evil? Who do you want to see as protagonists?
