As we approach the release date of Resident Evil Requiem, which is just over two weeks away, there have already been rumours about the next entries in the franchise, like the remake of Resident Evil 5.
One of the most credible leakers in the industry, Dusk Golem, also known as AestheticGamer, has made a new tweet debunking recent rumours and discussing past cancelled Resident Evil projects.
The leaker said Capcom tried going in many directions with the franchise from 2012-2014. One of the projects was the story DLC for Resident Evil 6, which was later cancelled following the game’s poor reception. However, it appears that Capcom had explored even more surprising options that never saw the light of day.
According to the leaker, there was another title, very Western-focused and named Biohazard Z. The now-cancelled project was even starring Barry to appeal to the Western audience. The project seemed to be chasing the back-then survival trend, which started with games like Day Z. However, it wasn’t in development for too long.
Was only in pre-production for 4-6 months & mostly just existed as concept art & some 3D modelling they did.
Dusk Golem also talked about how elements from these scrapped games, such as Barry’s design, made their way into titles like Resident Evil: Revelations 2. Even after cancelling the project, the team tried retooling some parts for another open-world game set on a Russian island.
Capcom included mechanics like hunger systems, hunting, and a day-and-night cycle in the project but ultimately scrapped it. While all of the cancelled projects, especially the Western-focused Biohazard Z, sound very compelling, they remain fascinating “what-ifs” that fans will likely never experience.
Still, if the developers hadn’t explored the franchise as much, Resident Evil 7 might have received a similar reception to the one before it. Therefore, it is good to see that all those efforts and the scrapping of so many projects resulted in the franchise’s revival.
Nonetheless, the upcoming entry in the franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, is already shaping up to be a GOTY contender. If you plan to play the title at launch, it is best to revisit these games to catch up on the game’s lore.
