After years of teasing and insider leaks, Capcom has officially revealed the next game from its back catalog that's going to get a modern glow-up. In a turn of events that will have likely shocked few onlookers, it's now been confirmed that the Resident Evil 4 Remake is actively being worked on. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, the new version of the iconic survival horror game will launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S early next year.
Thanks to Sony’s most recent State of Play presentation, there’s already a decent amount of footage available for the Resident Evil 4 Remake, despite the long wait ahead. Beyond offering a glimpse at Capcom's determination to modernize the experience, the roughly 2-minute long video has already started to hint towards some significant story beats. As a result, it's already possible to pinpoint some of the characters that are set to return.
Leon Kennedy
The fact that the original Resident Evil 4's primary protagonist features front and center in the Remake's debut trailer is unsurprising. Players were treated to several glimpses of Leon Kennedy undertaking what appears to be a faithful recreation of his classic mission. With Nick Apostolides’ returning to voice the character following the Resident Evil 2 Remake, it looks as though fans are going to be treated to a deeper examination of the hero’s backstory and psyche.
Ashley Graham
Set 5 years after the events of RE2’s remake, Resident Evil 4 Remake’s debut trailer underlines the fact that the Raccoon City outbreak hasn’t stalled Leon’s career. Just like in the original incarnation of the game, the counterterrorism agent has once again been tasked with saving the President of the United States’ daughter, Ashley. Beyond subtle hints that the character could feature in an expanded playable role, it’s been confirmed that Ashley’s appearance will be based on the model Ella Freya.
President Graham
Even though the Resident Evil 4 Remake appears to be a faithful recreation of the survival horror classic, there are already a few signs that Capcom is going to modernize parts of the experience. Beyond a brand-new reference to Resident Evil Village, fans have also clocked the return of President Graham. Based on his interaction with Leon in the Oval Office, which fans have never seen in-game before, it appears as though the US politician is going to play a more active role in his daughter’s retrieval.
Ada Wong and Luis Sera
Even though their respective appearances in the Resident Evil 4 Remake‘s trailer are fleeting, there’s a sense that Ada Wong and Luis Sera will have big roles within the survival horror game. While Luis can be heard interacting with Leon, likely in the game’s updated castle area, it's arguably the return of the former that’s the most intriguing of the two. With Leon still clearly haunted by what he witnessed in Raccoon City during the Resident Evil 2 Remake, the pair's reconciliation should be entertaining to see play out.
Resident Evil 4’s Villains
For what is an arguably short debut trailer, it’s remarkable just how many villains Capcom has already been able to confirm will be returning for the Resident Evil 4 Remake. For the most part, it looks as though the original villainous hierarchy and structure of RE4 will remain unchanged in 2023. Osmund Saddler can be spotted within the State of Play video, seemingly in his role as the game’s primary antagonist and leader of the Los Iluminados cult.
With Saddler confirmed to be once again pulling the strings in the Resident Evil 4 Remake, Capcom has also peeled back the curtain on some of his minions that fans will run into. In one fleeting moment, the zombie-like Cultist Zealots can be spotted stalking the halls of the game’s castle. Other named enemies are also seen in slightly revised forms, such as Don Jose, RE4’s first Ganado.
Of particular note is Don Jose’s more sickly appearance, which demonstrates the improved photo-realism that Capcom is now employing in the Resident Evil 4 Remake. There is also a momentary glimpse of one other returning boss, Chief Bitores Mendez. For the remake, it appears as though Capcom has made the villain even more imposing, which could suggest that it intends to lean deeper into his original design influences. With the game currently lacking a new pursuer-class enemy, the one-time design descendant of Mr. X could fill the gap nicely.
Resident Evil 4 will launch on March 24, 2023, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.