Resident Evil 9: Leaks, Predictions, and the Future of the Iconic Series
Following the resounding success of Capcom with titles like Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake, the global gaming community is eagerly anticipating the official announcement of the next main installment in the series: Resident Evil 9. While the company has yet to reveal any official details, leaks and rumors have begun to paint a preliminary picture of what could be the most ambitious chapter in the series' history.
Historical background: The evolution of a series that changed the concept of horror
The Resident Evil series (known in Japan as Biohazard) launched in 1996, setting new standards for the survival horror genre. The early installments were characterized by an atmosphere of isolation, complex puzzles, and scarce resources that forced players to think strategically to survive. Over the years, the series has undergone significant transformations, most notably with Resident Evil 4, which adopted a third-person perspective with a greater emphasis on action—a direction that continued in the fifth and sixth installments.
But with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, the series returned to its terrifying roots, introducing a first-person perspective for the first time in the main installments and a new story centered on the Winters family. Resident Evil Village continued this approach, blending psychological horror with thrilling action, achieving massive critical and commercial success and concluding a significant chapter in Ethan Winters' story.
The importance of Resident Evil 9 and its expected impact
The ninth installment represents a pivotal moment for the series. With the Winters family's story largely concluded in Village, the developers have a unique opportunity to define the identity and future of Resident Evil for the next decade. Expectations are that the game will serve as the conclusion to the current trilogy that began with the seventh installment, or it could be the start of an entirely new story with different characters and worlds.
Globally, the series boasts a massive fan base, and any new release directly impacts the entire horror game industry. Leaks from insiders, such as the renowned leaker Dusk Golem, suggest that Resident Evil 9 could be the biggest and most expensive game in the series' history, with a lengthy development period that began in 2018. This massive investment reflects Capcom's confidence in the title and its ability to push the boundaries of interactive horror using the latest capabilities of the RE Engine on current-generation consoles.
What do the rumors and leaks say?
The most prominent rumors revolve around the return of iconic characters like Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon Kennedy in pivotal roles, with the game potentially serving as the culmination of their decades-long storylines. Many also anticipate the game will offer a more expansive world than previous installments, while maintaining the series' signature atmosphere of horror and tension. The biggest question remains whether the game will retain the acclaimed first-person perspective or revert to the third-person view preferred by a wider range of players. Regardless, everyone agrees that Resident Evil 9 is not just another horror game; it's a global event eagerly awaited by millions, poised to determine the future of one of the greatest game franchises in history.
