The rumoured Resident Evil 4 remake is being reviewed and reworked owing to shifts within Capcom, thereby insinuating that its possible release is further off on the horizon than originally thought.
In spring 2020, a report emerged claiming that the game would be getting a lick of paint and a dab of elbow grease from Capcom, in the same manner of its very popular Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes. It seemed a straightforward punt: it's one of the most successful entries in the series, and has been ported to pretty much every platform out there. However, Shinji Mikami, the director of the Resident Evil 4 released in 2005, apparently chose not to return to the helm of the remake, though he did give the developer his blessing. M-Two, a small studio comprised of former PlatinumGames staff members, are the ones in charge of the new Resident Evil 4, having cut the mustard with their support developing Resident Evil 3.
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There's an argument that Resident Evil 4 doesn't need some spit and polish to bring it into this decade because it's an ever-lasting classic. The changes made to Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 improved the visuals and the gameplay of the original games hugely, and made them feel and play a lot more like Resident Evil 4. Ergo, do Capcom have enough wiggle room to recreate something truly enticing and exciting from the bones of the original game? Well, Video Games Chronicle asserts that the company may well have realised this, as a key project review in late 2020 led to the higher-ups reconsidering the approach M-Two were taking with Resident Evil 4.
After the talks, M-Two's role was "significantly reduced" and Capcom chose to bring in Division 1 to spearhead the remake of Resident Evil 4. Division 1 is Capcom's own internal studio which is responsible for Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Dead Rising and other more Western-focused franchises. The Resident Evil 3 remake had been criticised for its length, and how it had cut content from the original game. Apparently, in reaction to this, M-Two was very faithful to Resident Evil 4 in its recreation of the game. Capcom disagreed with this plan, and wanted to see a remake that is inspired by the original, but offering upgraded "features, story elements and environments not necessarily confined to the blueprint."
As a result, a part of the project has had to be rebooted, and so, the expected release window has been moved from 2022 to 2023. Now, Capcom has not come forward to confirm this news, so we should be cautious. However, it is cheering for those who felt they wanted a little more from Resident Evil 3, and for those who want to see the village in a brand new light.Featured Image Credit: Capcom
Topics: News, Resident Evil