Resident Evil 9 began as a 'multiplayer game' as insider reveals scrapped sequel
While Capcom has confirmed Resident Evil 9 is in development, we still know nothing about the sequel – with an official reveal expected at some point this year.
The only details we have about the follow-up to Resident Evil Village is from rumours, which claim it will mark a 'big reinvention' for the series, be open world, and use the same tech as Dragon's Dogma 2.
The source of these rumours, AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem, has now made several claims about the sequel on X, including how it apparently began as a multiplayer title.
According to the insider, Resident Evil 9 began development in 2017 as a 'big open world multiplayer game', a decision which was apparently made in response to Resident Evil 7's low sales at launch (it later went onto find success with over 14 million copies sold).
It's unclear whether this refers to cooperative or competitive multiplayer, but the leaker claims this original version featured Leon Kennedy and Jill Valentine as the game's protagonists, and was set on a fictional island based off of Singapore.
It's claimed Resident Evil 9 underwent a 'pretty heavy reboot' in 2021, around the launch of Resident Evil Village, but 'a few things stayed the same'. According to the insider, one thing which remained was Leon Kennedy as the main character, but Jill was apparently dropped.
(3/6) expectations. RE7 went on to have a huge tail in sales, but this was a bit reactionary. And the original version of RE9 was trying to be the opposite of RE7, IE big open world multiplayer game). RE9 originally starred Leon & Jill in a fictional island based off Singapore. — AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) May 22, 2025
While it isn't stated explicitly, it's implied the multiplayer aspect was dropped as well – considering that aspect has never been mentioned before. Past mainline games have leaned on cooperative multiplayer, specifically Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6, but these are widely considered to be among the worst of the numbered entries.
In other posts, Dusk Golem claims Resident Evil 9 is 'designed as a third-person game', so it won't have the first-person perspective of Resident Evil Village. They also claim it will launch in 2026, although Capcom's recent financial reports suggest it will be sometime after March.
Beyond Resident Evil 9, the insider claims a sequel to 2015's Resident Evil: Revelations 2 was also in development at some point, but it was cancelled by Capcom in 2022 to prioritise 'manpower and budget' on Resident Evil 4 remake and Resident Evil 9. More Trending
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 was an episodic sequel to the 2012 spin-off, which originally released on the Nintendo 3DS. As of March 31 this year, the sequel has sold 3.7 million units, so it's on the lower end of Resident Evil sales overall.
Capcom hasn't announced anything about Resident Evil 9, so it's worth taking these rumours with a pinch of salt, but it has dropped hints that news could arrive soon, with all eyes on Summer Game Fest on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Aside from the next mainline instalment, Capcom is said to be working on several Resident Evil remakes too, with the next one expected to be Resident Evil Zero.
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Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition?
A reader is disappointed by the recent Partner Direct and worries the Nintendo and third party publishers are already playing it safe on Switch 2. I tuned into the July 31 Nintendo Partner Direct with cautious optimism. The Switch 2 is out, the gaming landscape is shifting, and I was ready to be wowed. Instead, I walked away feeling deflated. What should have been a showcase of bold new directions and creative risks felt more like a safe, predictable parade of sequels, remakes, and ports. If this is Nintendo's vision for the future of its hybrid console dynasty, then I'm worried they're coasting on goodwill rather than pushing boundaries. Let's start with the obvious: Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Sure, it's a new entry in a beloved series, and the cinematic teaser hinted at a darker tone. But no gameplay? No innovation teased beyond a vague 'new story arc'? It felt like Capcom was banking on nostalgia and brand recognition rather than showing us why this game deserves to exist on a next gen platform. Then there was Octopath Traveler 0, Square Enix's latest HD-2D offering. I love the aesthetic, I really do. But we've seen this style multiple times now. The town-building mechanic and character customisation are welcome additions, but they don't scream 'next gen'. They whisper 'safe sequel'. It's a prequel, too – another sign that publishers are more interested in mining existing IP than forging new ones. Just Dance 2026, EA Sports FC 26, Madden NFL 26 – these are annualised franchises that feel more like contractual obligations than creative endeavours. Their inclusion in the Direct made the whole thing feel like a corporate checklist rather than a celebration of gaming artistry. Even Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted, while charming, is a remake. And Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2? Another remake. Where's the originality? I kept waiting for that one surprise. That, 'one more thing'. But it never came. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment was probably the closest we got to something intriguing – a canonical prequel to Tears Of The Kingdom sounds promising. But again, it's a spin-off of a spin-off. And while I appreciate the lore expansion, it's still rooted in existing material. Even the indie offerings felt muted. The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales had potential, with its HD-2D action role-playing flair, but it didn't feel like a game that could define the Switch 2 era. It felt like filler. And Chillin' By The Fire? Cozy, yes. But ambitious? Not remotely. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. What frustrates me most is that this was a Partner Showcase, not a mainline Nintendo Direct. So, I get it – no Mario, no Zelda, no Metroid Prime 4. But even within the third party space, there's room for boldness. Where's the weird, the experimental, the genre defying? Where's the spirit of the Switch's early years, when every Direct felt like a treasure hunt? Instead, this Direct felt like Nintendo and its partners are playing it safe. Maybe too safe. The Switch 2 is supposed to usher in a new era, but this showcase felt like a continuation of the old one. And that's the problem. Nintendo seems content to ride the wave of the Switch's success without truly challenging itself – or us. More Trending I want to believe that the Switch 2 has more to offer than prettier ports and sequels. I want to see games that couldn't exist on the original Switch. I want to be surprised, delighted, and maybe even confused. That's what Nintendo used to do best. But right now? It feels like they're coasting. And if they don't shake things up soon, the Switch 2 might end up being remembered, not for its innovation, but for its complacency. By reader BaldB3lper The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console? - Reader's Feature MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature MORE: Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's best game and you should get it now it's cheap - Reader's Feature
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
Games Inbox: What will be in today's Nintendo Direct?
The Thursday letters page is confused as to why Monster Hunter Wilds has seen a sales slump, as one reader expects Horizon Zero Dawn 3 to be a PS6 launch title. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Third party predictions I knew the Nintendo Direct would be a disappointment in some way, just because I agree with the theory that there are no more first party games for this year, so they're not going to want you looking forwards to things that aren't out yet, when they've still got new games to sell you. I thought it would be a Metroid Prime 4 Direct though, so a Partner Direct is probably a bit more interesting (hopefully, not that I have anything against Metroid Prime 4 but I'm already sold on it so I don't need to know much else). Following the rule that you should always expect nothing, and not be disappointed, I think they'll focus mostly on stuff that's already been announced, but is Nintendo friendly, like Star Wars Outlaws, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Borderlands 4. I imagine Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Elden Ring will be the things they spend the most time on. The question is whether we get anything completely new announced. I'm sure there'll be something and Assassin's Creed Shadows and a couple of minor Xbox games are probably likely. I'm not so sure about Red Dead Redemption 2 though, just because I can't imagine it running on Switch 2, and if it does there'll probably be some compromise like bad frame rates. My hope for a complete surprise is something new from one of Nintendo's close allies, like Capcom, Bandai Namco, Sega, or Konami. The lack of new games from any of them is my biggest disappointment with the Switch 2 so far. Ports are fine but I want to see third party Switch 2 exclusives. Lentil Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Fresh start I'd agree that a Horizon game set in another country would be cool, although they don't really make much of a deal of it being set in the US, just a few landmarks here and there. That's probably not surprising given I believe Guerilla Games are Dutch. I do wonder what they'll do with the next game though, as I assume it won't be changing setting. I also assume it'll be a PlayStation 6 game, possibly a launch title. I know the games have sold a lot, but I still don't feel they're necessarily that popular, if that makes sense? They just have excellent graphics and quite good gameplay (and bad stories). Maybe I'm living in a bubble, but I've never met a Horizon fan and it just doesn't seem like something anyone would ever get that excited about, beyond a general approval. I wouldn't launch my new console with it, but I guess we'll see. Zorro Do they care? This Mario Kart World update raises an important question I've always wondered about Nintendo. Do they know when people are complaining about a certain issue in their games or do they just not care? If it was any other company they've be begging for forgiveness and promising a patch as soon as possible (which they may or may not do). With Nintendo though, not only do they not say or acknowledge anything they almost seem to be trolling us half the time, by changing everything but what people are upset about. I can't see how they wouldn't know about the issues but maybe they don't read comments online on purpose or something? Or maybe they do, then have a good laugh about how they're not going to do anything about it. Jono Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Hero to zero I was already confused at how Monster Hunter Wilds could become the best-selling game of the year and now I'm even more confused as to why its sales have fallen off a cliff. Even if you say Devil May Cry sales have shot up because of the Netflix show (not that I knew there was a Netflix show) how can even Resident Evil 7 be outselling it now? That was eight years ago! To be fair, I've never been interested in it or any other live service game but I wonder if the focus on the story is what's caused these problems. As far as I understand nobody likes it, but Capcom thinks it's the reason why the game was so successful. So maybe they spent all the time on that rather than the 'endgame' content that would've kept people happy. Although I don't know why that would affect sales, rather than just the number of people playing. Is that just the power of word of mouth? Are people really putting that much stock in Steam reviews and whatever? I dunno, I think I'm more happy than ever with just my single-player games. Mogwai Battlefield issues So, I'm OK at Call Of Duty. I win regularly on Warzone and top multiplayer, but the issue I have with Battlefield, and I've tried many games and I'm prepared to give the new one a go as I don't want any publisher going under… but the issue I've always had are two really. The first is that the planes and helicopters are difficult to fly and if you want the casual gamer to play that's a great problem. The second is when killed the distance needed to travel to get back in the game, which can get very frustrating. They need to appeal more to the casual gamer, most don't have time to put hours into learn how to fly or spend time travelling over a large map just to get killed on arrival. TWO MACKS The true cost of power So what do you think to the brand new Evercade Neo Geo Super Pocket handheld with 14 Neo Geo games pre-installed into the tiny system? And the future three Neo Geo Arcade cartridges due to come out later on this year? Celebrating their 35th anniversary on how time flies by, hey? For me personally it's a fantastic idea what Evercade have done, to collaborate with Neo Geo, giving us oldies a piece of nostalgia that was way out of most people's budget back in the early noughties. I mean after the initial release of the console I believe you could only rent it out at certain retailers and countries at first. Then when it actually went on sale to the general public didn't the console itself retail for approximately £600 and the games were on average around £200 each! Also, as far as I'm aware, the power of the Neo Geo was almost as powerful as the Sega Dreamcast that came out almost a decade later, it was that advanced. That's why the games you played then in your home were completely true 100% perfect arcade. HAJ GC: The console was £399 at launch in the UK, but the games were indeed £200 or more. Adjusted for inflation that's £920 for the hardware, with games that were upwards of £460. It was the ultimate 2D machine, but unlike the Dreamcast it was useless for 3D polygonal graphics. We've not played the Evercade handheld but they usually do good stuff, so we're all for it. All GTA, all the time Part of me thinks that GTA 6 can never live up expectations, given how long it's been, and that'll probably be literally true. But I still think it's absolutely going to dominate everything in terms of sales, in terms of the amount of people playing it, and just everyone constantly talking about it, all the time. It's going to be on the news, it's going to be blamed for all sorts of crimes and social problems, and no matter how sick you get of hearing about it, it's going to keep selling and selling. As someone that likes GTA but isn't a mega fan I almost dread it coming out. It's definitely going to mean nothing else big coming out for months, and that at least is not a good thing. Roger Digital only Thanks for the Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review. I wanted to ask if you played it with the analogue stick or with the D-pad. I ask because I'm torn between buying it on either the Xbox Series X console or for my Switch 2. The problem comes down to Nintendo not providing a proper pad for portable mode play and the D-pad is still lame on the Pro Controller 2. If you swap between left/right quickly as you might do while gaming, you get frequent up/down inputs. And if you hold left or right, rocking your finger up or down slightly also triggers an up or down input very frequently. Just adjusting your grip while holding left or right is enough to also trigger up or down. This is an issue for 2D platformers and games like Tetris, specifically, are not really well-suited for the analogue stick and would normally work better with a D-pad. I'm not buying Street Fighter 6 on the Switch 2 for this reason. I couldn't even get past the tutorial with Luke when trying to do a double quarter circle special move and I don't like arcade sticks. Charlie H. GC: That's a good question. We started off playing it with the analogue stick, but the on-screen commands imply you should be using the D-pad and since the controls are digital-only we went with that. We can't say we've had any trouble with the Pro Controller 2 but the better reason to avoid the Switch version is that it's 30fps only, whereas the Xbox and PlayStation versions are all 60fps. Dotemu has said the Switch 2 version will be improved, but they haven't guaranteed 60fps. Inbox also-ransNow you come to think of it why is Devil May Cry 6 taking so long? The last one was a hit and Capcom are in the money so what went wrong? Bronson GC: It is a mystery, although the director of Devil May Cry 5 leaving last year can't have helped. Loving Donkey Kong Bananza so far and special shout out to the soundtrack. Really great stuff, as usual, from Nintendo. Whistler More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: When is the next State of Play for PS5? MORE: Games Inbox: Is there a secret Nintendo Switch 2 Christmas game? MORE: Games Inbox: Are gamers too entitled about video games?
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
The best-selling game of 2025 outsold by Devil May Cry games from decades ago
Capcom's latest financial report has shown a severe drop in sales for the supposed biggest game of the year, as Devil May Cry and Resident Evil sales spike. Monster Hunter Wilds is the best-selling game of the year so far, with over 10 million sales worldwide, but its success has sharply declined over the last financial quarter. While it's normal for sales of games to drop after their initial launch, Monster Hunter Wilds, which launched February 28, has seen a dramatic decline during the period from April to June 30, 2025. As highlighted in Capcom's financial report for Q1 2025, the sequel sold 477,000 units and was their ninth best-selling game overall. This is only just above its four-year old predecessor Monster Hunter Rise, which sold 389,000 within the same period. While this alone is surprising, the steep drop is even more noticeable when you see what's above it. The best-selling Capcom game of Q1 was 2019's Devil May Cry 5 at 1.7 million, while Devil May Cry HD Collection and Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition (games with roots as far back as 2001) both topped it too with 594,000 and 495,000 sales, respectively. The reason for this bump is Netflix's Devil May Cry series, which came out on April 3, 2025 and has generally been well received. It was renewed for a second season a week after the first season came out, so it's clearly done well ratings wise – not that Netflix ever provides figures. This boom in popularity for the Devil May Cry games is reminiscent of the Fallout TV show's success, which also lifted sales of the games, some of them extremely old. It's unclear when the second season of Devil May Cry will come out, but based on these figures, Capcom would be wise to coincide its release with the long overdue, yet still unannounced, Devil May Cry 6. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Devil May Cry 5 – 1.7 million Resident Evil Village – 923,000 Resident Evil 4 remake – 706,000 Resident Evil 7 – 635,000 Devil May Cry HD Collection – 594,000 Street Fighter 6 – 538,000 Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition – 495,000 Resident Evil 2 remake – 482,000 Monster Hunter Wilds – 477,000 Monster Hunter Rise – 389,000 Beyond Dante's boost, Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil 7, and Resident Evil 2 remake all outsold Monster Hunter Wilds too – something Capcom attributes to the announcement of Resident Evil Requiem in early June. In the report, Capcom acknowledged sales for Monster Hunter Wilds 'were soft', but highlighted how Monster Hunter Rise 'continued to see sales growth'. The big question is, why has Monster Hunter Wilds sales dropped off a cliff? On Steam, the game carries an 'overwhelmingly negative' rating due to its poor performance on PC, which still hasn't been properly addressed since launch. A more general complaint across platforms is the lack of endgame content, which is vital to any online game's longevity. Like past titles in the series, there will likely be an expansion in the future to rectify this issue, but at the moment (for some players at least) it's lacking in both difficulty and reasons to return. An update on release date and content of update Ver.1.021The expansion of endgame content which was originally planned as part of Title Update 3 in late September will now be released ahead of schedule as part of the Ver.1.021 update. To accommodate this change, this update… — Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) July 29, 2025 This sales downturn might be why Capcom is pushing forward the release date of extra endgame content for Monster Hunter Wilds. More Trending As announced on X this week, endgame additions which were planned as part of the Title 3 update in late September will now be released 'ahead of schedule', as part of the Ver.1.021 update on August 13, 2025. Along with expanded weapon balance adjustments, this update will now contain a new level of quest difficulty and a new rewards system for certain quests. Beyond this update, an additional monster is set to be added in September as part of the Title Update 3, while Title Update 4, planned for 'winter', will come with another new monster and 'more challenging hunts'. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: GTA 6 in danger of being delayed to September 2026 claims insider MORE: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review – don't rage against the machine MORE: Nintendo Direct announced for Thursday but don't expect Metroid Prime 4
