Capcom has been on a roll here lately, releasing hit after hit like the Resident Evil 2 Remake and Monster Hunter World, with Resident Evil 3 being the latest to receive its iconic remake treatment. Although its commercial success has yet to be determined, it's proven to not be as popular among critics, for a variety of reasons. However, that's not to say that it's a bad remake—it does everything a remake should and then some. Capcom recently released a survey asking if fans were interested in more remakes, meaning that a few other entries like Code Veronica or Resident Evil 4 are potentially on the docket.
It seems that the reason RE3 Remake is less popular than RE2 goes back to the reason that the initial was so unpopular: it is more action-oriented than its predecessor, marking the slow transition from the purist survival-horror genre to a more action-based franchise. As such, it's worth wondering what a remake of Resident Evil 4 would look like. SPOILER WARNING for those who have yet to complete the Resident Evil 3 campaign.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
Resident Evil 2 Remake released to universal acclaim and set a high bar for Resident Evil 3. It somehow dutifully recreated the original survival horror experience complete with iconic puzzles and fan-favorite moments, but still managed to introduce new cutscenes, areas, and more that added to the overall experience. As we noted in our Resident Evil 2 review, "The game pays homage to the original release while successfully updating the experience for modern audiences. It's not perfect, but it's close, and here's hoping it inspires Capcom to remake other Resident Evil games in a similar style."
Resident Evil 3 Remake
And, lo and behold, it did when Capcom announced the Resident Evil 3 Remake. Hype for it was at all-time high leading into the launch, but upon its reception, many agree that it can't hold a candle to Resident Evil 2. Note that this was true when RE3 released the first time around, so in truth, it should be expected. As a remake, it does what many expect from it—ups the ante in terms of graphic and introduces new elements to the game.
It changes some key moments, which some will appreciate and others will not. Instead of being coward Brad who gets killed by Nemesis, he gives up his life to save Jill, earning him the redemption arc that he needed. Other characters, on the other hand, are entirely omitted like Barry Burton. In short, many of these changes emphasized action sequences at the cost of scare tactics or, in some cases, story, but the end result is a good remake for an otherwise contentious game.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
And that's where the big question of what Resident Evil 4 would look like comes from; Resident Evil 3 was a transition to more an action-oriented franchise. Resident Evil 4 was the first full encapsulation of it. Like its predecessors, fans could easily expect a graphic overhaul that brought the game into modern capabilities. It's also worth considering that a Resident Evil 4 Remake would more likely appear on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, given their release later this year, so it would likely be something to marvel at truly.
In terms of story, it would be hard to say—as one of the most popular games in the franchise, there's really not a lot that could be changed to begin with and not a lot that would be done so popularly. One of Resident Evil 3 Remake's critiques is that it fails to offer any new information on Nemesis, so perhaps Resident Evil 4 could shed some more light on the Las Plagas parasite to give lore-hungry fans to go on.
Gameplay, however, would almost certainly be more like Resident Evil 3 than Resident Evil 2, and that's not a bad thing. Resident Evil 3 Remake's big caveat is that it is indeed a remake (a good one) of a game in flux, one in transition between the two identities of the franchise. Given Resident Evil 3's treatment, a Resident Evil 4 remake would likely be well-received. Yes, it has appeared on numerous consoles at this point and has been touched-up a time or two, but Capcom's reputation paints a pretty picture for its possibility.
Resident Evil 4 Remake may not even come next, as many want to see Code Veronica receive similar treatment, but either way, Capcom has proven that it can deliver a remake quality that is above and beyond expectations of a remake. Be sure to check out the aforementioned Capcom survey, as the results of it may prove to be interesting.
There's no known Resident Evil 4 Remake in development at this time.