Capcom's latest title, "Resident Evil 9: Requiem," officially debuted this month with its first gameplay footage. But here's a shocker: the game originally started development with an open-world and online multiplayer core.
Director Kōshi Nakanishi recently admitted in an official developer diary that these ambitious concepts were ultimately scrapped because, well, "fans didn't want them." Nakanishi revealed that the team had initially begun work on an online version of "Resident Evil 9" and even conducted preliminary experiments.
"You might have heard some rumors, like an online or open-world version of Resident Evil. We did spend some time exploring those directions," Nakanishi elaborated. "But ultimately, even though we came up with some interesting concepts, we felt it wasn't what fans truly wanted to play. So, we eventually decided to start from scratch, go back to basics, and that's how we got the 'Requiem' you see today."
According to well-known leaker Dusk Golem, the game's development kicked off as early as 2017, initially featuring Leon and Jill as protagonists and attempting to move away from "Resident Evil 7's" first-person perspective. However, following the launch of "Resident Evil Village" in 2021, the project underwent a massive reboot.
"Resident Evil 9: Requiem" is slated for release on February 27, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Players will step into the shoes of FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of reporter Alyssa Ashcroft from "Resident Evil Outbreak." Grace investigates mysterious deaths occurring 30 years after Raccoon City's destruction.
Capcom states that "Resident Evil 9: Requiem" will bring "bold changes" to the series, adopting a mixed first and third-person perspective. The game promises to maintain a strong survival horror atmosphere, set within a Gothic hospital where dim lighting and shadows create an intensely oppressive and terrifying experience.
via： VGC