Resident Evil 1 Remake “Might Not Resonate” With Modern Fans, Capcom Says

Capcom Didn’t Remake Resident Evil 1 First Because “It Might Not Resonate With Today’s Fans” Published Nov 14, 2026, 5:41 AM EST James Lucas is the Lead Photo Editor at TheGamer and has worked in professional journalism since 2018. A Newcastle University graduate with a degree in Journalism, Media, and Culture, they have written hundreds of guides, news stories, and original reports, with bylines in IGN, NME, GaymingMag, and VG247, sourcing interviews with studio heads, legendary industry figures, prominent actors, and more. You can reach them at James.t@thegamer.com Capcom's recent lineup of remakes started with Resident Evil 2, throwing us back into the chaos of a Raccoon City under siege by zombies, tyrants, lickers, and even alligators. It might seem like a weird place to start, rather than the inciting incident where Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield skulked through Spencer Mansion, but longtime series producer Jun Takeuchi has revealed that the team worried it would alienate modern audiences. "The reason we didn't choose Resident Evil 1 as the first remake is because it's such a stoic game," Takeuchi said in Nikkei Entertainment!'s celebration of the series' 30th anniversary (translated by Fandom). "Because it focuses so heavily on the horror derived from its stoicism, we were concerned that it might not resonate with today's game fans. "Furthermore, the Raccoon City incident is essentially the starting point of the Resident Evil saga, so we felt that experiencing that was the best way to introduce the origins." Of course, there was a remake of Resident Evil in 2002 for the GameCube, which was remastered for PS4, PC, and Xbox One in 2015—but it remains dutiful to the fixed camera angles and tank controls of the original, unlike the newer remakes, which adopt an over-the-shoulder viewpoint. Fans have been clamoring for another Resident Evil remake in-line with the newer games, and given the slower, more methodical horror of Grace Ashcroft's sections in Requiem—and just how well that was received—I'm not sure the argument holds up anymore. But just because Capcom shot down a Resident Evil remake once before doesn't mean it has been completely ruled out. According to reputable leaker Dusk Golem, who first reported that Leon Kennedy would return as a playable character in Requiem, the original Resident Evil is getting a remake, with full production set to begin after Veronica has wrapped up. "RE1: is just recently entering development, so it's likely anywhere from 4–7 years out from releasing, presuming it comes out at all since it's in early development and RE games get scrapped all the time," he explained. Dusk Golem also alleged that a Resident Evil Zero remake is underway, corroborating an MP1st report. It'd be a little odd to tackle the prelude to the Mansion Incident, following STARS Bravo Team en route to the Arklay Mountains to investigate the same cannibalistic murders, and not the first game it leads directly into. So, while Capcom may have feared that the original game wouldn't resonate with new fans, rumors suggest something has changed, and after Veronica in 2027, we'll be revisiting Spencer Mansion—again. Released March 22, 1996 ESRB Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom Engine RE Engine Franchise Resident Evil Number of Players 1