Resident Evil 9: Will the Bold Reinvention Revive or Ruin the Franchise?

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The Resident Evil series, initially released decades ago, still dominates the horror video game industry. Each new installment in the series manages to astonish both long-time fans and newcomers with innovative twists. In recent years, the series has thrived, producing outstanding new games and remastered versions of its classic titles.

There’s been a lot of buzz about the next mainline installment in the Resident Evil series, following the release of Resident Evil Village four years ago. Rumors suggest that this new game is being kept under wraps because it’s intended to be a significant overhaul for the franchise. It seems that Resident Evil isn’t shy about major changes, and the upcoming game’s rumored overhaul has its reasons while also sparking some curiosity.

Resident Evil 9 Could Be A Huge Changeup

Resident Evil Already Went Through A Reinvention Recently

It could appear surprising or unexpected if there’s talk of another major overhaul for the franchise, considering that it only underwent a significant change recently. The 2017 release, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, marked the first mainline game to adopt a first-person view and reorient the series towards horror, moving away from the action-heavy installments that came before. Given this recent shift in direction for Capcom, it would undoubtedly be startling if they were to abandon this new approach so swiftly after its introduction.

To elaborate, this revamp was partially prompted by unfavorable critiques of earlier games, particularly Resident Evil 6 from 2012. Contrastingly, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village were met with widespread acclaim, and players welcomed the game’s transformation. Therefore, it’s surprising to witness Capcom making such a dramatic shift in direction, considering that fans have embraced the current aesthetic of the franchise.

Resident Evil Is No Stranger To Switch-Ups

In essence, although this transformation may occur swiftly, it might be beneficial for the Resident Evil franchise to avoid staleness. After all, Capcom has previously varied the gameplay in Resident Evil, such as with Resident Evil 4’s shift towards more action-oriented gameplay. It’s possible that the publisher believes Ethan Winters’ story is concluded and a new tale demands a different gameplay approach, or if his narrative continues, a fresh gameplay style could provide a novel way to tell it.

Given the impressive resurgence of Capcom in recent years, marked by the success of games like Resident Evil 7 and its positive impact on other franchises such as Devil May Cry, Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter, it might be an opportune moment for Capcom to reimagine the Resident Evil series. After all, the publisher has made a remarkable comeback since its slump in the early-to-mid 2010s, making it less risky to experiment with the gameplay of Resident Evil now compared to a decade ago.

Though the change might arrive swiftly, it could be beneficial since it prevents the series from growing tiresome over time.

Fans Should Take These Resident Evil Leaks Lightly

Just as with any video game rumors, it’s important for gamers to approach this latest news with a healthy dose of skepticism. While the source of this leak, AestheticGamer also known as Dusk Golem, has been trustworthy when it comes to Resident Evil leaks, we can’t be sure of its accuracy until the official game is unveiled. In line with this, Capcom hasn’t yet commented on these rumors, so fans should exercise patience and wait for the game’s release before making a definitive judgment.

If Resident Evil 9 does indeed shake things up for the franchise, it’ll be a testament to Capcom’s knack for taking risks with their flagship titles. Regardless of where the Resident Evil series has been – good or bad – Capcom has consistently shown its appetite for innovation. Here’s to hoping RE9 continues this trend and delivers a daring addition to the series, even if it significantly alters the gameplay from its predecessor.

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2025-03-19 13:06