Resident Evil 6 will be "totally different"

By Fred Dutton Published 19 April, 2011

Capcom promises franchise reinvention.

The next full entry in the Resident Evil series will see the franchise getting a comprehensive makeover, Capcom has revealed.

Masachika Kawata, currently producer of Resident Evil: Raccoon City, told Spanish site MarcaPlayer (as translated by Rely on Horror) that Resident Evil 6 will bare precious few similarities to Resident Evil 5.

"The series will see a complete renovation with the next entry on every level," he promised. "But we can't forget about all the previous entries that have led to the creation of many possibilities for the franchise.

"I can't say if we're going to make it survival horror or a shooter, but I can say that it'll be totally new."

Resident Evil 5 launched on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2009, picking up a muted 7/10 from Eurogamer.

"Bereft of puzzle and exploration, Capcom has instead pointed both barrels at the action element in the hope that the masses will warm to it," wrote Kristan Reed.

"Thanks to the game's stubborn loyalty to stop-and-shoot, the result is distinctive, but with suspect partner AI to contend with, this is a game that only truly comes into its own with a friend who's up for a challenge."

Capcom has made no formal announcement regarding when we see might Resident Evil 6, or on what platform it might appear, though it does have a raft of confirmed franchise titles in the works.

The 3DS is getting Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and Resident Evil: Revelations, while PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are due Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. On top of all that, HD versions of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica are heading to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade later this year.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (55) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Dolly #1 1 year ago

    FPS set in a middle eastern country?

  • the_dudefather #2 1 year ago

    Barry Burton chronicles: revenge of Barry Burton (includes a one time use code so you can play as Barry Burton's brother: Harry Burton in co-op mode)

  • bad09 #3 1 year ago

    As long as they go back to horror, puzzles, atmosphere and zombies all good.

    The endless shooty, bang, bang and QTEs of 4 & 5 should 100% be left out.

  • Dr_Cowley #4 1 year ago

    Try survival horror... With zombies

  • Kazzahdrane #5 1 year ago

    Actually Barry Burton's brother was Halli Burton who rather than joining S.T.A.R.S. decided to form an oilfield corporation.

    I actually really enjoyed RE5, but I played it co-op over LIVE which I think was really Capcom's intention. They might as well have shipped it without a single-player mode and called it RE: Union or something to satisfy the "It's not a real RE game" crowd. It really is very enjoyable and contains your daily recommended dose of awesome team cross dives.

  • carrotcake #6 1 year ago

    I um wouldn't mind RE2 remake with graphics like RE0 and RE1 on Gamecube/Wii, but this time in 1080p widescreen. Can't go wrong with gorgeous remake of a good game.

  • bdc #7 1 year ago

    They're gonna copy CoD aren't they...

  • Master09 #8 1 year ago

    RE4 the best game of last gen IMO.

  • FenderMaster #9 1 year ago

    I found RE4 more scary than Re 1 and 2 tbh. The chainsaw guys always scared me, especially early on in the game where all you've got is a pistol and 5 shotgun shells. And the introduction of the regenerator was a masterful piece of creeping dread... you see them on the rack, and know that one is going to come to life, but you don't know when, then suddenly you're trapped in a small fridge with a monster that won't die, no matter how many times you blow off its head or limbs. To top it off, you had that creepy wheezing sound and the way it moved! RE4 had a few interesting puzzles too like the sliding tiles.

    The truth is that early RE titles weren't that scary, and their puzzles weren't that great or numerous. Now RE3, that game was different, if only for the Nemesis, I was on edge throughout the experience!

  • Collymilad #10 1 year ago

    Great so they're thinking of going full shooter?

    Make a new franchise Capcom ffs, just let RE died.

    Wait a second, wtf am I talking about, RE died in 2005.

  • Lexx87 #11 1 year ago

    I love when companies promise "reinvention" then release the exact same game as before.

  • Cappy #12 1 year ago

    Resident Evil 6 will bear precious few similarities to Resident Evil 5, not bare.

  • Code_R #13 1 year ago

    Unfortunately "Raining_Upwards" they'll be copying games that sell, not games that are good. I doubt we are going to see a return to survival horror, it will be another stupid reboot.

  • Triggerhappytel #14 1 year ago

    Resi 5 was a game that I didn't really have a lot of warmth for when it came out in '09, but I bought the Gold Edition late last year and have really started to appreciate it. It's not as good as Resi 4 and in some regards the series needs to seriously modernise before the next main instalment, but I think it gets a lot of unfair stick. The Gold Edition has an insane amount of content, and it works wonderfully with PS Move.

  • GamesConnoisseur #15 1 year ago

    Enjoyed RE5, most especially when playing co op online on hardest mode, that was fun!

    Sure its gotten too action arcadey, as if trying to do Gears of War but there only too many of RE templates before you get bored so its good to innovate. However need to innovate in the right direction and in right balance, preserving what good and trim out the fats.

    Never able to please everyone, but unfortunately RE5 went too far and disliked by a good proportion, but I thought that some elements was good and hoping they can get it spot on for the sixth game.

  • Phantom_Dynamite #16 1 year ago

    "franchise reinvention"

    This scares me, Resi 5 was an 8 for me, but I long for the days of the first, my favourite ps1 game, the suspense the tension, feeling like a wuss playing as Jill 'cause she had it easy compared to Chris.

  • Sevens #17 1 year ago

    More westernization and a drug addict as a main character then.

  • Silent-Hal #18 1 year ago

    I'm going to say right now that RE4 is pretty much the only RE game that I'm a fan of, though the earlier games aren't all bad. Bring back the horror, bring back what worked about RE4 (ie pretty much everything) and chuck out everything that didn't. It wasn't the mechanics that let RE5 down, it was the flaws in its core game design that made it a much worse game than its predecessor.

  • Sevens #19 1 year ago

    RE 4 features a moronic story and a series of uninspired environments. The combat part is solid but I don't find it convincing as far as the entire experience is concerned. 4 and 5 mark a serious departure from core concepts of the series and are thus problematic. Naturally some people will and obviously do appreciate the changes.

  • DannyXanny #20 1 year ago

    i dunno what all the crying is about every rez game apart from them shitty shoot at the screen things have been great fun. Yea 5 didnt have puzzles but lots ov action and some great co-op play and u have to stand still to shoot but it was still fun 2 play. Looking forward to see what they put up next.

  • FenderMaster #21 1 year ago

    RE 4 features a moronic story and a series of uninspired environments. The combat part is solid but I don't find it convincing as far as the entire experience is concerned. 4 and 5 mark a serious departure from core concepts of the series and are thus problematic. Naturally some people will and obviously do appreciate the changes.

    in fairness, all Resi games have moronic stories, RE4's isn't especially bad. The environments (village, castle and military base were no more or less inspired than Re1's castle, or RE2's city and police station. In fact I'd say the village, underground caverns (remember that boss in the tunnels with the Liquid Nitrogen cannisters) were among the series best.

  • icematt12 #22 1 year ago

    RE4 got tedious with me with finding Ashley, losing, finding, losing etc. Would have loved just to have her unconcious and drag her or just cut my losses and shoot her myself.

  • Bulbatron #23 1 year ago

    Just make the next one more like 'Lost in Nightmares' and MUCH less like 'Desperate Escape'. Is that too much to ask? 'Operation Raccoon City' does sound as though it could be a hell of a lot of fun, but let's get back to what made the series successful, at least for the numbered games.

    Or Capcom, If you're that desperate to make shooters now, then create a new IP rather than continuing to alienate older Resident Evil fans.

  • Tomo #24 1 year ago

    Please be good, please be good, pbg, pbg, pbg.

    Resi 5 was one of the biggest disappointments in years and years.

  • johnDoe #25 1 year ago

    Bring back the item box have less weapons and throw in a typewriter please.

  • Kami #26 1 year ago

    We need something a bit more like the DLC Lost In Nightmares - that bonus mode urinated over the main game from a massive height. It was slower, sure, but more suspenseful - you didn't need dozens of cannon-fodder mobs to make it a pleasant experience - just some good ideas, characters that you like and a good setting. And a handful of enemies that were freaky as fuck, of course. That is the future of Resident Evil as a series - action needs to be paced proper, too much and it means nothing. Too little, and basically it's not tense enough.

    Resident Evil 6 doesn't need to be completely different - it just needs the developers to look at the ideas they have got and USE THEM. Resident Evil 2 was scary because after the initial cramped swarm of zombie fodder from the start, you were then shut into the RPD - and led deeper into a mystery. Resident Evil 3 offered the fodder plentifully - but Nemesis was the crux of it all, a mutant powerhouse that was relentless in its pursuit of Jill. RE4 was even more action fodder - but it was funny! It had a properly sharp comedic edge to it, a razor-sharp wit and a knowing self-deprecation. RE5 - even more fodder again, but played it too straight.

    Basically, the way it's going, we have more and more and more mobs to kill. I think we've had enough of the fodder - let's get back to RE1 and 2 in the STYLE of Resi 4 - the traditional setup of the RPD, but with that over the shoulder camera... Can you imagine turning the corner and watching that licker scuttle up across the window? Oh god yes...

    They are trying to reinvent the wheel - they have a great control system. It's fine. I like it. Let's just cut back on the actiony stuff and see it get back to basics - tense, slow-building... and then uglies. I'm sure we'll all be MUCH happier in the long run if they can marry the two breeds together...

  • Bulbatron #27 1 year ago

    @Kami

    Yep, that's pretty much what I was getting at, but you said it much better. The current over-the-shoulder method is fine, and mixed with the suspense and atmosphere and occasional jump from the first few games, there's no reason why Resident Evil 6 shouldn't be just as good as 'Lost in Nightmares' was.

  • frazzl #28 1 year ago

    I hope they either revert back to the older types of RE titles where puzzle solving and atmosphere were the focus, or fully commit to a more action oriented title by letting us fucking move and shoot!

  • Phishfood #29 1 year ago

    It will have multiplayer and if you bought it second hand then you will have to buy a code to play it.

  • GiarcYekrub #30 1 year ago

    Limited Ammo, and No bloody Co-Op please

  • GiarcYekrub #31 1 year ago

    And definately no annoying AI that follows you arround all the game

  • jonsaan #32 1 year ago

    5 was brilliant and the only one I have actually completed without getting frustrated and bored.

    /dons flame suit

  • drumbaby #33 1 year ago

    I think designing a game that doesn't rely on terrible controls (in order to 'scare' the player) would be a good start. If they take the time to design good levels, good creature A.I., and a good combat system then this franchise can finally shed its frustrating reliance on making the player feel glued to the spot because the gamepad config' has taken on the qualities of a Rubiks Cube.

  • stuntmaster #34 1 year ago

    it be a fps like all the other games ,shame as i enjoyed re5 took me a while to complete and yeah the bot partner was a waste of space

  • menage #35 1 year ago

    Resi 5 was shit so I hope they learn from it. This whole, we need co-op / online, crap doesn't work with every game. Especially since Capcom online titles are really hit or miss (MVC3 being utter shit for example)
    Edited by menage at 20/04/11 @ 08:09

  • Cjail #36 1 year ago

    Resident Evil 6 will be totally different, a franchise reinvention...It will be a tennis game!
    The new villain will be Zombie John McEnroe!
    Edited by Cjail at 20/04/11 @ 09:20

  • StooMonster #37 1 year ago

    Surely an FPS version of Resident Evil would be non-coop single player Left4Dead?

    I quite liked RE5 and played it all the way through to the end, but I did find the lack of ability to run-n-gun (in this day-n-age) frustrating.

  • ForozM #38 1 year ago

    This is quite pleasant. I love reboots.

  • CamberGreber #39 1 year ago

    SURVIVAL HORROR please.

    Take what made RE4 great and mix in the INTENSE HORROR of RE1 and RE2.

    Jezz Capcom this is So Obvious.

  • mumblyjoe #40 1 year ago

    Needs puzzles, proper zombies, no stupid sidekick...

  • kangarootoo #41 1 year ago

    Everytime I recall my brief attempts to play Res5, a part of me dies inside. Drag the control system from the 80s into the present day, and everything else (absurd story aside, which I don't really mind that much) might just fall into place.

  • Notallowedhere #42 1 year ago

    Unfortuantly for those that hated RE5 it's the biggest selling game in the series. I guess there is a balance to be struck somewhere between sales and keeping fans of RE1 happy

  • Kami #43 1 year ago

    Sadly, the success of RE5 shows it was well marketed. I just thought the game played itself far too straight - the humour was gone, and so too was some of the magic...

    Still, I hope that Capcom don't veer off into a FPS route. We really don't need that. They have pieces of amazing ideas, it is about time they brought them together into one harmonious whole... and then the series will be reborn!

  • StooMonster #44 1 year ago

    No love for run-n-gun Resident Evil?

    Much as I loved RE1, RE2, RE3, and RE4 (although didn't quite finish that one) I do find the movement control akin to driving a tank. Dead Space does the survival horror movement pretty well IMO.

  • Kami #45 1 year ago

    How about we just ask them to go back and do something similar to the original Dino Crisis then?

    Fuck it, put Resi on hold AND GIVE ME A DINO CRISIS HD REMAKE NOW!!!!

  • sweatyBallacks #46 1 year ago

    Dunno, Resident Evil 4 was a great game but it didn't really feel like Resi 1-3 which had their own unique atmosphere. I would go as far to say Capcom could have named RE4 something totally different. As for RE5 - I never played it.

    It's been repeated here a hundred times, but for me, Resident Evil is about PUZZLES, horror and zombies. With that old Resi flavour sprinkled over the top that could have only come from a Japanese dev. It's like Silent Hill the way RE is going. The first 2 Silent Hills were absolute classics, the third was very good, then it went downhill.

  • curtlikesmeat #47 1 year ago

    Reboot you say?

    Right, open world massive city, engrosing storyline, hordes of zombies (some running) and lots of umbrella style twists and turns (picture Dead Nation, but not top down and with a storyline). You want multiplayer? Allow base building within the city and try to fend off the hordes for as many days as possible getting harder every day, zombies attack at 10:00pm server time every day getting progressively harder, leaderboards for days survived like that web based game.

    Send my cheque in the post please.
    Edited by curtlikesmeat at 20/04/11 @ 10:58

  • Kami #48 1 year ago

    Indeed, although I will always love Resi 3. In context or out of it, that was some funny shit!

    I like the RE4 control scheme. I just think we could do with less enemies - but better enemies. Zombies with real proper detailing - rotting flesh, chunks and all. Really, Resi 4 was great but what made it work was the self-deprecating humour of it all. That knowing wink to the audience, as if to say "No, we're not taking this seriously either." - as I said beforehand, Resi 5 is just too straight laced.

    But again, I go back to Dino Crisis - I loved the movement stuff there, and would love to see it in a new Resi game... but more importantly, I now want an HD remake of Dino Crisis. Let's get Regina back - catsuity thing and all! GO right back to the beginning, HD remake the original, and then keep to that sodding timeline!

    Wouldn't mind seeing Dino Crisis 2 remade either - different game, but interesting story...

  • Kikizosan #49 1 year ago

    I'd love to see a Resi that caters to both the survival horror roots and the latter day action slant. Also, a crafted single-player experience and a co-op story mode. I know it'll prolly never happen, but why not have two players simultaneously playing, but separated at the start like in Resi 2 - both running in parallel, crossing over at points, before joining together for a climactic, action-packed final act.

  • Vlad27145 #50 1 year ago

    "Capcom promises franchise reinvention."

    For RE... I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing o_0

  • drhickman1983 #51 1 year ago

    @Kami "Sadly, the success of RE5 shows it was well marketed. I just thought the game played itself far too straight "

    Have to partly disagree with you there. When I played through Resi 5 with a friend we couldn't stop laughing at the game (though note "at", not "with";). If anything out opinion was that Resi 5 didn't play it straight enough, and was actually far too silly.

    Though Resident Evil 5 was a dissapointment, I did really like Resi 4. I found some parts of 4 actually pretty eery and unsettling. And though 5 went too far with the emphasis on action, I did feel it was right to attempt something different with 4. Resident Evil 2 did pretty much all they could do with the "old" gameplay, Resi 3 is largely forgettable to me, and Code Veronica whilst good, still didn't beat 2, the formula was starting to feel a bit stale.

    I personally think they should continue with the over the shoulder view, but just spend some time on making things actually eery and creepy, build more suspense (the bits where 4 bothered to build suspense worked pretty well. 5 didn't try, it seems.)

    A proper "reboot" of the franchise could have some advantages though, the story on whole is really quite silly now (and it's not all 4/5s fault. it started to go pretty silly in CV, and prior to that it still required a huuuuge suspension of disbelief)

  • sega #52 1 year ago

    Please, people, don't class Resident Evil 4 as being an abomination in the series and label it along with Resident Evil 5. Resident Evil 5 was not a poor game because it had similarities to Resident Evil 4, which many consider to be one of the finest games of the last generation.

  • sjmlondon #53 1 year ago

    I enjoyed Resident Evil 5 but in my opinion they need to update the stop and shoot mechanics for any sequel. The controls are just too clunky compared to more recent games.

  • silversun #54 1 year ago

    What id love from resident evil 6 is back to horror or at the least tension of the series , make the main people in the game go through something challenging and personal , not death but something on a deeper level than that.

    A few idea for who should be in resident evil 6 - leon and claire , team them up again.
    Rebecca chambers and billy coen , what the heck have these 2 been up to in the series since we last saw them.

    Im personaly hoping we find out who hunk really is at some point.

    More over the top moments like that fight in resident evil 5 with the big laser attack that made gears weapon look tiny.

    Lots of old and new monsters to come back in the series for 6 i hope , less action and more exploration , , more extreme action in boss battles but more balanced like resident evil 4 was.
    typewriters and ink ribbons , even if they not used for saving could be nice throw back.

    Improved inventory system.
    Run and gun but dont turn it into a shooter game.

    Another idea is that the game could feature the complete resident evil cast for first time ever, bring them back as a new bravo and alpha squad maybe add some new people into the mix , like one team could be chris, leon, claire, jill and and barry , while Another be sheva leading the other team with new people and somewhere in the game rebecca and billy coen pop up .
    That would probley be an amazing resident evil if they could do some storyline involving new alpha and bravo teams.

    Edited by silversun at 20/04/11 @ 23:44

  • MGSChris #55 1 year ago

    Being quite a young gamer I didn't start playing Resi's till i was 10. At this time i didn't understand the games, now im older i replay them all. I played resident evil 4 alot, Resi 4 hit the nail for me. Leon is the classic character cool, awesome and pwns. But Resi4 got tedious the whole we have ashley now you don't we have ashley now we don't got so boring. BUT the game kept me going with puzzles new weapons and what doesn't seem to be around now, a decent story line. CAPCOM need to open there eyes. Read what the players have to say, If your going to follow CoD Capcom please listen. You are my favourite company SONIC and resi top it for me, apart from MGS my favourite.. YOU have done so well look how far you have got !!. A remake of Resident Evil 2 would be perfect ! 1080p graphics BUT everything the same tank controls the lot, See how many players you get then. It would hit the bench mark capcom. Racoon City has to be my favourite place in the Resi games, yer its only a city but you could expand, go through buildings the sewers, subway stations and finale Police Station. Unfortunatly with resident evil games its taking a leap of faith designing a whole new bracket e.g. new area, new character. What would be really epic is being able to play as Leon/Chris/BarryB/HB/Jill and once you've finished the game as wesker. I dunno why i just think Wesker is awesome ^.^ Anyway i've blabbed on enough about what i'd like to see as im pretty sure many people will disagree with me. But Seriously CAPCOM, Listen to your fans..