Even before the release of 2019's remake of Resident Evil 2, fans of the long-standing survival horror franchise have been wondering which game from the series will be remade next. Of course, given that the original Resident Evil has been remade and remastered in the past, the logical answer as to what Capcom will remake next is Resident Evil 3.
While there is still no official confirmation that a Resident Evil 3 Remake is in the works, Capcom previously said that if RE2 Remake does well, then a remake of the third game is not unlikely. Of course, we know now that the 2019 remake of RE2 was a success given that it sold 4.2 million units as of May this year. For comparison, the original game sold a little under 5 million since its release back in 1998.
So given this, it is likely that the game is already in development. In fact, immediately after the release of Resident Evil 2 remake, rumors quickly spread that Capcom has already started the development of Resident Evil 3 Remake. Most recently, a video posted by YouTube content creator Spawn Wave claims that the remake is in active development and that Capcom is targeting a release date of 2020. Assuming that Capcom is indeed developing Resident Evil 3 remake, and assuming that it is targeting a release next year, then when can we expect an announcement?
The Game Awards 2019
If Capcom is indeed targeting a release date of 2020, then it is likely that an initial announcement should happen soon. The likeliest venue for the developer to reveal a game this big is on the upcoming The Game Awards, which will happen on the 12th of December. In the past, games from other franchises were revealed during the awards show, like the initial tease for Dragon Age 4 that Bioware released last year.
E3 2020
Another likely scenario where Capcom may unveil Resident Evil 3 Remake is during E3 2020. Of course, given that E3 usually happens around June, then the likeliest release date for the remake would probably fall around Halloween next year. It is also important to remember that the first trailer for Resident Evil 2 Remake was unveiled at E3 2018, so it is likely that the remake for the third game would follow suit. Also, Resident Evil 2 was just released earlier this year, so it is unlikely that Capcom would immediately release the sequel just a year later, making the second half of 2020 the likeliest scenario, and E3 2020 as the likeliest venue to make the initial announcement.
We Do It 2!
Of course, Capcom may not even be looking at gaming events to reveal Resident Evil 3 Remake and just decide to make the announcement themselves. This is what Capcom did in 2015 when it revealed that it was working on a Resident Evil 2 remake by releasing a video showing one of the game's developers wearing a shirt saying "We Do It!". If Capcom would indeed go this route, and if the 2020 release date is accurate, then we can expect an announcement either sometime before 2019 ends or early next year.
What To Expect in Resident Evil 3 Remake?
Third Person Perspective - While the original Resident Evil 3 was played with the iconic fixed camera angles and tank controls, it is unlikely that these would make a comeback in Resident Evil 3. Capcom already set the precedent with Resident Evil 2 Remake, which used a third person, over-the-shoulder camera perspective, and it is unlikely that the studio would deviate from that for the sequel. In a previous interview talking about Resident Evil 2, Stuart Turner, COO of Capcom Europe said that "The world has moved on and these players have changed. And if we did (introduce old school mechanics), these fans might play it and actually decide it's not what they wanted after all."
New Character Designs - Similar to Resident Evil 2, it is likely that the remake of the third game would see some changes in the way characters look. In the remake of RE2, Capcom made changes to both Leon and Claire's costumes, making them more realistic as possible. With this approach, it is possible that Jill Valentine's iconic costume in the original RE3 won't make the cut because if we're being realistic, it is unlikely that a trained police officer who has prior knowledge and experience of bioweapons would dress the way she did. Not only is that costume impractical for combat, but it also exposes much of Jill's skin to the zombies, and other monsters lurking in the city.
Revamped Story - Those familiar with the Resident Evil franchise would know that Resident Evil 3 was originally intended as a spin-off title, and Resident Evil Code Veronica was supposed to be the numbered sequel. However, due to conflicts with Capcom's relationship with Sony, things were reversed and Resident Evil Nemesis became the third installment in the franchise. This is the reason why RE3 is a little bit shorter than its predecessors, and it is likely that Capcom would take the opportunity to expand the game's story in the remake, just as it did with Resident Evil 2.
A More Terrifying Nemesis - If Resident Evil 2 Remake's Mr. X is an indication of what Nemesis would be like, then players can expect a more horrifying experience. Even in the original game, Nemesis was already terrifying given that the tyrant has the ability to run, carry weapons and pursue the player relentlessly. In a way, this year's revamped Mr. X gave players a glimpse of what Capcom is capable of. However, Nemesis is just 10x scarier than Mr. X, and we can't wait to see what the tyrant has to offer if Capcom does remake Resident Evil 3.
Of course, everything discussed here is just pure speculation given that Capcom has been tight-lipped about Resident Evil 3. One probable reason as to why the developer is silent is because it probably wants players to focus on its upcoming Resident Evil spin-off called Project Resistance. However, given that the rumors about Resident Evil 3 are only getting stronger day-by-day, then maybe Capcom would be forced to reveal its hand earlier than it intends to.