Resi 5 'Versus' modes announced

By Dan Pearson Published 12 March, 2009

Two competitive MP modes as premium DLC.

As we suspected, Capcom has announced two new, premium DLC multiplayer modes for Resident Evil 5, available in a single pack called 'Versus'.

The main kerfuffle about the two new modes is that they'll be competitive rather than co-operative, although only one will be directly so.

Slayer's Rule will see players taking out Majinis for points. Majinis being the latest strain of infected rather than the lovely Madge Bishop-inspired cocktail which they could and should be. Straightforward enough really - the biggest killer of the match gets the crown.

Survivor's Rule is less traditional, pitting players against each other in a shocking lack of non-infected solidarity. There'll be up to four players in each round, with the game's two protagonists available, as well as other 'secret' choices.

Both gametypes will support both one-on-one and two-on-two team matches, but there's been no mention of free-for-all three or four player games.

Pricing runs at 400 Microsoft Points (GBP 3.40/EUR 4.80) on Xbox Live, and GBP 3.99/EUR 4.99 on PSN. The Versus pack should be available a "few weeks" after the game's release on Friday, but if that sort of wishy-washy calendar organisation simply isn't enough for you, take a look at the shots we've just posted, if you like.

Picture of Dan.

About Dan Pearson

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Comments (30) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Darren #1 3 years ago

    Apparently the player guide book for RE5 has a section in it about this DLC and that would surely have been finished weeks ago to be out in time for the game's release. Seems to me that Capcom have deliberately held this back from the retail version to sell as premium content. How many other guide books include information about forthcoming DLC *before* the game is even officially released? ;)

  • kinky_mong #2 3 years ago

    Slayer sounds pretty good, Survivor sounds bad. How can a deathmatch work when you stand still to shoot?

  • Gnort #3 3 years ago

    In before "stop whining about it, nobody's forcing you to buy it".

  • kangarootoo #4 3 years ago

    @Smuggo

    It takes a fair while to put a disc release through QA, marketing, pressing and so on. The game code for ResEvil 5 was probably finished over a month ago.

    Making and releasing DLC is a much quicker process by comparison.

    This is why you sometimes see day one patches for games, as the patch could be finished up and released well after the final disc code had to be submitted.

    @Darren

    Again, knowing that something is going to be made is not the same as having it all finished and ready to include.

  • kangarootoo #5 3 years ago

    That said, they could have course have held it back purely for profit reasons, but so what? I mean that very sincerely.

    You see the product, you pay your money or you don't. If you happy with purchase then its all good.

    I have likened this in the past to having a pile of sweets, and being absolutely delighted with said pile of sweets... until you realise someone else has a bigger pile of sweets and then your own pile doesn't seem so great anymore.

    It matters not one jot whether this is being released to make money (oh, heaven forfend that game publishers wish to make profits). If you bought the disc release of Res5 and you liked it, and felt it was worth the money, then be happy.

  • Darren #6 3 years ago

    @Gnort - I dunno, people have a right to complain about the announcement of DLC before a game is even officially released, especially when the main game costs them £30+. It makes it seem as if Capcom have intentionally withheld content from the game to sell on later.

    Personally, I have no problems with purchasing DLC some weeks or months after a game's release, such as the excellent Lost and Damned DLC for GTA IV, but I'm always deeply suspicious when DLC is announced around or before a game's release. I have a sneaking feeling that many publishers do cut stuff from games so they can sell it as DLC and make more money out the game. One of the recent Tomb Raider Underworld DLC packs was by the developer's admission a level removed from the full game!

    It's true that we don't have to buy it but the point is that people *do* want it, they just want to feel they are getting value for money from a game that's all without having to fork out extra money so close to the game's release.

  • Gnort #7 3 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    Fair point, but after Capcom decided to charge for the secondary outfits in SF4, which were finished long before the release of the game, I think we're all a little suspicious of them.

  • Steroyd #8 3 years ago

    What happened to free online vs. and charging us for map packs, it's like what Konami wanted to do for MGO but didn't have the guts to do it.

  • Gnort #9 3 years ago

    @Darren

    I agree with you 100%, it's just that the "stop whining" comments on news items such as this are as inevitable as the "gathering dust" comments in a Wii game review.

  • asphaltcowboy #10 3 years ago

    Yeah I'm with kangarootoo with this one. Still don't see how this is going to work with stand and shoot... the screenshots seem to tell the story already! 8)
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/09 @ 16:58

  • nickthegun #11 3 years ago

    It will be hilarious to spectate.

    *Contact!
    *Stand toe to toe and empty clip, hoping the other person dies first
    *repeat until bored

  • Darren #12 3 years ago

    Well I think Capcom should have waited a couple of weeks after the game's release to announce these Versus modes. That way, it would look less like they are withholding content from the retail version IMO. Seems a bit daft to me to be telling everyone about a mode that they won't be playing tomorrow when the game is officially released because, well, you'll have to buy it for £3 for a few weeks time. :?

  • ryohazuki1983 #13 3 years ago

    @Darren

    Exactly, it's not just an odd level or an extra outfit thats missing, its a whole bloody game mode, most games these days come with SP and MP modes, withholding one mode and charging for it seems a bit wrong (imo).

    Imagine if every developer started charging for MP modes!

  • asphaltcowboy #14 3 years ago

    I do agree they shouldn't have announced it yet

  • penhalion #15 3 years ago

    As well as other secret choices...so wesker and Jill then.

    \surely their time would be better spent fixing the single player AI!
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/09 @ 17:28

  • MaTTy_P #16 3 years ago

    Run, run, run, run, see someone stopped and shooting at you, stop, turn around slowly, shoot, dead.

    Repeat.

  • Furfoot #17 3 years ago

    Capcom pulled the same stunt on SF4 charging for costumes already on the disc.

  • HolyJebus #18 3 years ago

    It is pretty cheap but I agree its too close to the games release.

  • FenderMaster #19 3 years ago

    Is anyone surprised? Capcom is one of the worst companies when it comes to DLC microtransaction gouges.

    Megaman 9: Protoman/Timeattack locked out -- unlock code
    Street Fighter IV: Costumes locked out -- unlock code

    Capcom may make the best games, but they're also the worst gougers...

  • bad09 #20 3 years ago

    Capcom are almost as bad as EA for DLC fleecing, and that's some achievement!

  • Feanor #21 3 years ago

    Hope these modes are standard in the PC version.

  • reelbigkris #22 3 years ago

    consider a game costs $49... from that $49 a retailer gets $17... The console manufacturer gets $8... and the distributor, publisher and developer have to share the remaining $24. occasionaly, the people who actually make the titles get less than the retailers that sell them. thats crazy!! with high development costs, developers need to release DLC for several reasons... preventing second hand trade ins and sales, aswell as getting a few extra pennies for themselves.

    With second hand sales becoming the norm. developers release content prematurely in the hope that you wont trade in your game so the retailers have to continue to sell new copies of thier games. expect this to be the norm with the ever increasing cost of development in video games. the only time i have ever truley been upset at DLC was with Skate II and its ridiculous camera effect pack!

  • polar #23 3 years ago

    Surely they could have included this in the main game?

  • stevetuck #24 3 years ago

    ohhh crapcom when will you learn about DLC... worst thing is people will buy it :(
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/09 @ 20:41

  • Dezm0nd #25 3 years ago

    I support this, if people want more they can buy it. RE games are single player and I want a full experience. If I want MP then I will shell out a few more quid for it if i'm THAT into it.

  • bad09 #26 3 years ago

    Never heard of Double dipping Crofto? The movie industry has it's own pet rips, that sadlly we all swallow...

  • Freek #27 3 years ago

    Resident Evil used to be known for having this sort of thing as unlockable, like Mercenaries Mode in Resi 4. Charging extra for it is kinda screwing over your fanbase and it's not surprising they're getting critisized for it

    if you don't like it, don't buy it goes without saying, but you don't have to be quite about it thing either. This is after all the comments section.
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/09 @ 07:37

  • muscleblade #28 3 years ago

    Its only 400 points so its not that big of a deal is it?

    edit: They should have waited a few months no doubth.
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/09 @ 10:43

  • ParanoidZombie #29 3 years ago

    IMO, the main problem here is that competitive multiplayer simply doesn't make sense because of RE's gameplay. It reminds me of overlord or stranglehold or dark sector, i really don't see how this could turn out to be fun. And we already have mercenaries anyway...

  • Feanor #30 3 years ago

    "Resident Evil used to be known for having this sort of thing as unlockable, like Mercenaries Mode in Resi 4."

    But RE 5 does have Mercs on the disk and a shitload of other unlockable extras.