Capcom Still in the Shadow of Resident Evil 4 After 20 Years

Twenty years after its original release in 2005, Resident Evil 4 continues to be an undeniable reference for Capcom, overshadowing even the most recent releases of the franchise itself. The influence of the game, which revolutionized the series and the survival horror genre, is still so strong that Capcom seems unable to escape its legacy, a scenario that demonstrates the lasting impact of a successful title, but also raises questions about the company's ability to innovate beyond its biggest success.

The shadow of Resident Evil 4 is a testament to its timeless quality, but it can also be a burden for Capcom, which seeks to move forward with new proposals for the franchise.

Resident Evil 4, originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, was a watershed not only for the Resident Evil franchise, but for the entire gaming industry. The game introduced an over-the-shoulder camera, which became a standard for third-person shooter games, and mixed action elements with survival horror in an innovative way. With Leon S. Kennedy on a rescue mission in Spain, the game traded classic zombies for more aggressive and intelligent enemies, the Ganados, and presented a narrative more focused on action without completely abandoning its horror roots.

The success of Resident Evil 4 was monumental, and the game was re-released on various platforms over the years, including an acclaimed remake version in March 2023, which sold over 7 million copies in less than a year. This remake, which modernized the graphics and gameplay, but kept the essence of the original, only reinforces the power and ongoing relevance of the title.

Capcom tried to replicate the success of RE4 in later games of the franchise, such as Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6, which adopted a more action-focused and cooperative mode approach. However, these titles were met with mixed reviews, with many fans feeling that the series had strayed from its horror roots. The company only managed to reignite fan interest when it returned to a first-person perspective and pure horror with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, released in January 2017, and Resident Evil Village, in May 2021.

Despite Capcom's efforts to innovate and diversify the series, the influence of Resident Evil 4 remains. The next game in the main line, Resident Evil 9, for example, considered an online format based on fan feedback before returning to a single-player experience. This hesitation to completely disconnect from the successful elements of RE4 is evident. Even the newly announced Resident Evil: Survival Unit, a mobile game, reuses assets and characters from various titles, including the remakes influenced by RE4.

Capcom continues to have a strong financial performance, with a notable 61% growth in revenue from Steam, reaching US$ 546 million in the last twelve months. However, the constant comparison and pressure to deliver something as impactful as Resident Evil 4 can be a challenge for the franchise's future creativity and innovation. For Capcom, the legacy of RE4 is both a blessing and a curse, driving success but also limiting the freedom to explore new paths.