Koshi Nakanashi, who directed 2017’s Resident Evil 7, is to take the lead on Resident Evil 9, which is now in development according to Capcom.
Japanese studio Capcom has made a huge success out of its remakes of bygone Resident Evil games, with last year’s Resident Evil 4 picking up awards and breaking sales records for its sensitive updating of the 2005 classic.
Capcom is also looking to the survival horror series’ future, however, having just confirmed that it’s currently working on Resident Evil 9 – the first proper sequel since 2021’s Resident Evil Village. Development will be headed up by Koshi Nakanashi, who previously directed 2017’s Resident Evil: Biohazard.
Shifting the series’ perspective from third- to first-person, Biohazard was widely regarded as a leaner, scarier return to form following the increasingly action-focused Resident Evil 5 and 6.
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Nakanashi revealed that Resident Evil 9 is in the works during a Capcom NEXT livestream (as reported by IGN). “It was really difficult to figure out what to do after [Resident Evil 7],” Nakanishi said. “But I found it, and to be honest it feels substantial. I can’t share any details just yet, but I hope you’re excited for the day I can.”
There isn’t much to go on yet, then, and it remains to be seen whether Resident Evil 9 will continue the first-person viewpoint of its two most recent predecessors, or whether it’ll return to the third-person template of earlier games.
Capcom also has other Resident Evil projects in the works: in May, reports circulated that the studio is remaking two early 2000s spin-offs – Resident Evil – Code: Veronica and Resident Evil Zero. If they’re given the same level of care and thought as Resident Evil 4 Remake, then we should be in for a couple of gory treats there.
