Resident Evil is one of the most influential video game franchises of all time.
First released in 1996 by Capcom, it pioneered the survival horror genre, revolutionized game design, and set new standards for storytelling, atmosphere, and gameplay mechanics.
This formula inspired countless horror titles like Silent Hill, Fatal Frame, Dead Space, among others.
From the haunted Spencer Mansion to Raccoon City’s zombie-infested streets, the franchise also redefined third-person shooters with an over-the-shoulder camera in Resident Evil 4, which too place in a remote, rural region in Spain.
This game heavily influenced titles like Gears of War, The Last of Us, Dead Space and others.
In all, Resident Evil franchise entered the industry with its own breakthrough survival horror genre, and the introduction of games where players have to deal with limited resources, puzzle-solving, and tense exploration that forced them to think carefully about every action.
Then, Resident Evil 7 was released with a first-person shooter approach. While it took a more common way of showcasing horror, the approach allowed it to revitalized the franchise, bringing it back to its survival horror roots while introducing fresh elements.
And this time, after about two year since the release of Resident Evil 4 Remake, the developer is ready for another groundbreaking sequel.
This is because Capcom plans on making something bigger.
The information comes from well-known Resident Evil leaker 'Dusk Golem,' who has shared reliable details in the past. In a new post on X (formerly Twitter), it's said that the main reason why Resident Evil 9 is taking so long is because it’s a "very ambitious" title for Capcom, and that it's also a "big reinvention of the series."
In other words, RE9 is supposed to be a whole different thing.
Either from the gaming experience or the technology, RE9 is supposed to be unlike recent remakes or the first-person horror of the last two mainline games.
Capcom is apparently trying "new things" and pushing for something much bigger.
The report suggests that Capcom is taking the franchise in a bold new direction, comparing it to the massive shifts seen in Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7.
It’s been a while since Resident Evil 8 (Village) dropped, and with Capcom staying quiet for so many years, speculation has been running wild.
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(2/2) is taking so long is because it's like a big reinvention of the series, to the same level as RE4 & RE7. It's not going to play just like RE7/RE8 or the Remakes, it's trying new things & very ambitious. It will almost definitely be revealed this year, so just hold tight.
— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) March 17, 2025
“I know a lot of people are also antsy at the lack of Resident Evil news for a year & a half now. The thing I think people will realize when [Resident Evil 9] is revealed is [that] the reason this game is taking so long is because it’s like a big reinvention of the series, to the same level as RE4 & RE7,” they said in a post on X.
“It’s not going to play just like RE7/RE8 or the Remakes, it’s trying new things & very ambitious. It will almost definitely be revealed this year, so just hold tight.”
Filling the shoes of both Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7 should be really difficult, knowing that Resident Evil 4 went all-in on over-the-shoulder action, while Resident Evil 7 brought back survival horror with a first-person perspective.
If Resident Evil 9 is truly doing something that significant, it could be one of the biggest changes in the franchise’s history.