Rumors are circulating about Resident Evil 9 potentially being the first major installment in the series to embrace an open world format. While Capcom has not officially announced the game, popular leaker Dusk Golem, also known as Twilight Golem, took to Twitter to share some insight.
According to Dusk Golem, Capcom often greenlights new projects in groups of three. Recent examples include Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil 2, and Devil May Cry V, all of which took advantage of the new RE Engine. The idea of remaking Resident Evil 2 also inspired plans for remasters of Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4.
Furthermore, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is said to have expanded the capabilities of the RE Engine for open-world games, with two other games in development utilizing the technology: Monster Hunter Wild and Resident Evil 9. Dusk Golem emphasized that all three projects aim to preserve the DNA of their respective series, ensuring that Dragon’s Dogma 2 remains true to the original game, as will Wild for Monster Hunter, and Resident Evil 9 for the Resident Evil franchise.
While rumors about Resident Evil 9 adopting an open world format should be taken with caution, the trend of other series transitioning to open worlds in recent years makes the possibility seem more plausible. Fans of the Resident Evil franchise will have to wait for an official announcement from Capcom to confirm these speculations.