To coincide with Sony’s State of Play, Capcom has announced a Resident Evil 4 remake with a reimagined storyline. Capcom promises to update the original in line with modern horror titles while keeping the essence of what made the original a smash hit on Gamecube way back in 2005.
Resident Evil 4 was a turning point in the series, foregoing clunky tank-like controls for an over-the-shoulder perspective that remains an industry standard for third-person titles to this day. It set a precedent, blurring the line between action and horror.
What we know so far
The premise in large part remains the same; gamers take on the role of Leon S. Kennedy, one of the remaining survivors of a biological disaster in Raccoon City. Now a grizzled veteran, he is sent to a remote European village in search of the president’s kidnapped daughter, Ashley. Classic horror trope shenanigans ensue, and Leon must fend off villagers who are infected with a parasitic mind-controlling agent.
Leon can be seen searching the mysterious village in question, complete with his iconic bomber jacket and fingerless leather gloves in the announcement trailer. New volumetric lighting and enhanced textures showcase the village and its inhabitants while providing a sneak preview of a few familiar faces.
“This time, the game is being developed to achieve state-of-the-art quality for a survival horror suitable for 2023, while preserving the essence of the original game,” said Capcom in a statement.
“We aim to make the game feel familiar to fans of the series, while also providing a fresh feeling to it. This is being done by reimagining the storyline of the game while keeping the essence of its direction, modernizing the graphics and updating the controls to a modern standard.”
Resident Evil fans need not worry if the past is anything to go by. Capcom altered the storylines in its remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, remaining faithful to its original iterations while updating the graphics and controls to the modern era. It proved popular, introducing the franchise to a new generation.
Resident Evil 4 remake is expected to release on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 come May 24, 2023.
