Spanning over two decades and multiple consoles, Resident Evil is without question one of the longest-running and most iconic video game franchises in the history of the medium. Over the years, the series has grown into more and more of a blockbuster giant, with the later entries in the franchise each amassing millions of dollars upon release.
Up until recently, the best selling game in the iconic horror franchise was Resident Evil 5, with the game managing to sell a whopping 7.7 million copies. However, the divisive fifth game in the series has since been usurped by its much younger successor, with reports confirming that Resident Evil 7 has finally taken the throne as the best selling Resident Evil game of all time. It's also the second best selling Capcom game of all time, sitting behind Monster Hunter World which is currently boasting 16.1 million units sold.
The widely acclaimed reboot of the iconic franchise has managed to snag a jaw-dropping 7.9 million copies over its lifetime, which is incredibly impressive seen as its such a rampant departure from the formula established in prior Resident Evil releases. Instead of following either the tense, 3rd person survival horror of the initial slate of games in the franchise or the more action-oriented style of the later ones, Resident Evil 7 instead opted to focus on a first-person perspective that set itself apart from its predecessors. It went back to its more eerie, survival horror roots, but took some major risks for the series, cutting back on many of Resident Evil's most seminal aspects to reinvent itself into a franchise that could thrive today.
Evidently, its biggest risks paid off, which is a brilliant sign for Resident Evil 8:Village which will look to capitalize on the same style that made the series' 7th entry such a huge hit. The sequel, which will launch on next-generation consoles in 2021, takes place in a seemingly much bigger location to the Baker family's home, with protagonist Ethan exploring a snowy village infested with some brand new enemies never before seen in the franchise. Evidently, the game will look to capitalize on the same, subversive nature of the title that came before it, with werewolves, witches, and, strangest of all, longtime series mainstay Chris Redfield seemingly taking up antagonistic roles.
Seen as Resident Evil 7 was such a major leap for the company, it's fantastic to see a reinvention of a franchise find such success with its longtime fanbase. Now that the game is the second most successful title in Capcom's history, perhaps fans can look forward to seeing more of its franchises try something wholly new when things get stale.
Resident Evil 7 is out now on PC, PlayStation 4, PSVR, and Xbox One.
Source: Capcom