Summary
Capcom currently has its hands full ofResident Evilprojects if the various rumors and leaks that have surfaced about it in the past few years are to be believed.Resident Evilhas been on a winning streak since the developer rebooted the series in the form of 2017’sResident Evil 7. It followed this up with critically acclaimed and financially successful remakes of the second and third entries along withVillage, and finally, most recently, 2023’s hugely embracedRE4 Remake. Fans have since been anxiously awaiting updates about the assumed ninth main installment, with Capcom remaining largely silent so far regarding it.
Of thesupposed games in the pipeline,Resident Evil ZeroandResident Evil Code Veronicahave consistently been mentioned by unofficial sources. While the studio itself remains mum, a known figure with a history of obtaining accurate information about the franchise, AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem, has indicated thatremakes ofCode: VeronicaandRE Zerohave allegedly been in the worksand are in some stage of ongoing development. If this is the case, then there’s a great way for Capcom to capitalize on both via releasing them together as part of a singular package.
Capcom teasedResident Evil 9in a recent video that markedRE4 Remakeselling 10 million copies.
Capcom Bundling the Rumored Remakes of Resident Evil Zero and Code: Veronica Together Would be a Knockout
While it was previously thought thatResident Evil 5would be the obvious choice for the next entry to be remade, it seems that might not be the case, at least for now, as there has been less buzz lately about a possibleRE5remake. Dusk Golem has, however, stated that thealleged remake ofCode: Veronicawill be “less ambitious"compared to previous ones like theRE2and specificallyRE4remakes, and this may be true of theRE Zeroone as well.
Dusk Golem also reported their “educatedspeculation” that Nintendo has secured marketing rights for theResident Evil Zero Remake.
Resident Evil Zero and Code: Veronica Are the Perfect Fit for Each Other
Resident EvilCode Veronicaseesheroine Claire Redfieldteaming up with the sometimes goofy but well-meaning Steve Burnside as the pair escape being captured by Umbrella on Rockfort Island after the events ofRE2.RE Zerolikewise follows the duo of S.T.A.R.S. rookie medic Rebecca Chambers and condemned prisoner Billy Coen on Umbrella’s Ecliptic Express train in a story serving as a prequel toRE1. Given the similarities between their place in the IP’s release history and timeline alongside their designs and presentations, both games would complement each other quite well being released in one whole package.
Capcom Bundling the Rumored Resident Evil Code Veronica and RE Zero Remakes Could Be a Big Boon
In contrast to the above,Resident Evil 9will allegedly mark another major shakeup to the series, taking on bigger aspirations with a potential open world and other notable changes. This could be why theremakes ofREZeroCode: Veronicaare supposedly smaller in scope, though keeping in mind this has not been confirmed by Capcom. If accurate, however, the studio could decide to release the two as a double feature as a way to bolster them and better satisfy players before it releases the latest numbered title.
ThoughResident Evil ZeroandCode: Veronicawere not failures by any means, and remain well-liked by a good portion of many fans, they never quite reached the general highs of some of the preceding games, and have since often become eclipsed by theimpactResident Evil4hadon the series and gaming overall afterward. Still, they remain an important part of the franchise’s past and its lore, and would be well-served by modern remakes to fill out the catalog ahead ofRE9.
Resident Evil: Code Veronica’s shift in locationsoffers a good change of scenery from the previous settings. Meanwhile,RE Zerodistinguished itself by experimenting with the established formula, although not always necessarily to its benefit. As both titles feature deuteragonists and are relatively shorter, though, they would make excellent back-to-back experiences within a single convenient collection. This would also eliminate any wait between their respective releases, likely garnering goodwill, especially as a potentially cost-effective measure for Capcom to kill two birds with one stone and pass the savings along to players. A remastered bundle might be a savvy choice for Capcom to make the most out of these twoREentries for fans while it forges ahead on the next mainline game.
