Resident Evil 9 is ‘big reinvention’ like Resident Evil 4 and 7 claims leaker

A prominent insider has compared Resident Evil 9 to previous game-changing entries, describing the next instalment as ‘very ambitious’.

With the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds out of the way (after having gone extremely well) Capcom’s attention will inevitably start to move towards Resident Evil.

The next mainline instalment, Resident Evil 9, was officially announced last year, but we still haven’t seen or heard anything about it. The only information we have has come via rumours, with claims it will be open world, using technology from Dragon’s Dogma 2.

None of this is confirmed, but the same leaker has now teased the sequel again, claiming it will ‘almost definitely’ be shown this year.

In a post on X, AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem claimed the reason Capcom has been so quiet about Resident Evil 9 for so long is because it is ‘very ambitious’.

‘I know a lot of people are also antsy at the lack of Resident Evil news for a year and a half now,’ they noted on X. ‘The thing I think people will realise when Resident Evil 9 is revealed is the reason this game is taking so long is because it’s like a big reinvention of the series, to the same level as Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7.

‘It’s not going to play just like Resident Evil 7 and [Resident Evil Village] or the remakes, it’s trying new things and [it’s] very ambitious. It will almost definitely be revealed this year, so just hold tight.’

Considering Resident Evil 4 completely did away with fixed camera angles and Resident Evil 7 moved the series to first person, these comments suggest Resident Evil 9 could mark a similarly drastic shift in perspective, or another kind of overhaul – like the previously rumoured open world.

If it’s using technology in Dragon’s Dogma 2, there’s a chance it could incorporate reactive world elements (like the Dragonsplague disease which can dynamically infect towns) or more spontaneous monster clashes to evolve persistent enemies like Mr X.

It’s tough to imagine an open world Resident Evil, considering so many of its best moments are scripted sequences, but it seems like the most obvious way to upend the series in a significant way.

As for when Capcom could debut the next Resident Evil, the obvious answer is around Summer Game Fest in June. Remakes of Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil Code: Veronica are also apparently in development, so a dedicated presentation from Capcom could be on the cards too – especially as they’ve held one the same week as Summer Game Fest before.

None of these projects have a release date but considering the 30th anniversary of Resident Evil is in 2026, it’s likely Capcom has a whole bunch up its sleeve for the occasion.

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