Resident Evil 8 has been one of the most anticipated next-gen titles since its announcement at Sony's Future of Gaming event in June 2020. Since then, Capcom has been very careful not to reveal too much about the game before its launch, only releasing one other trailer since the game's reveal. Now the Resident Evil Showcase, a presentation entirely dedicated to news about the future of the franchise, has revealed that Resident Evil 8: Village will release on May 7, 2021.
Resident Evil 8 is the newest installment in Capcom's long-running survival horror franchise. When the game was first announced in 2020, Capcom was reluctant to reveal whether the game would release on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One given that the developer was mainly aiming for performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. Unfortunately, the game will not be playable in VR like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
Resident Evil 8 pre-orders are live now, with the game coming in both regular and deluxe editions. The base game comes with both the main game and the RE: Verse multiplayer component. The deluxe edition also includes multiple bonuses including the "Trauma Pack," a set of cosmetics inspired by Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Pre-orders also include a cosmetic "Mr. Raccoon Weapon Charm," and the "Survival Resources DLC Pack." A collector's edition was also announced that will include a statue of Chris Redfield statue, a poster, and an art book, among other items. Pre-orders on the PlayStation Store will also only include a mini soundtrack. Players can also choose to buy Resident Evil 8: Village and Resident Evil 7: biohazard as part of a digital bundle.
The game's release coincides with the franchise's 25th anniversary, which Capcom is planning to go big for. For one, the release of the Netflix Original Series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is planned for later this year. The showcase also included the announcement of RE: Verse, the aforementioned multiplayer component included with Resident Evil 8. Capcom also announced that Resident Evil content will be included in Ubisoft's The Division 2.
Resident Evil 8 follows the events of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard by centering around Ethan Winters and his wife Mia. To hold fans over until the game's release Capcom has announced that a PlayStation 5 demo simply titled "Maiden" will release later today. The demo follows events not featured in the main game, and as not to disappoint fans on other platforms, a demo featuring gameplay elements found within the main game will be released later in spring 2021.
Resident Evil 8: Village will release on May 7, 2021, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.