Resident Evil Requiem Lends Credence to the RE1 Remake Rumors

Spoilers ahead for Resident Evil Requiem.

Resident Evil fans have been experiencing an incredible run of games over the last few years. Resident Evil 7’s shift to first person and increased focus on horror got the ball rolling, allowing the series to redeem itself after the disappointing RE6 and ushering in a new era of success. Since then, excellent remakes for RE2 and RE4 have been released alongside a solid (if short) reimagining of RE3, while Village wrapped up the story that began in RE7. Then, Resident Evil Requiem released, which has been a massive sales success and the most critically acclaimed new entry since RE4. It seems like the future is just as bright as the present, too, as a remake of Resident Evil 1 has supposedly joined the lineup of in development projects.

While players shouldn’t get too excited about this rumor, as Capcom has a habit of greenlighting and then canceling (or drastically reworking) Resident Evil projects, there’s good reason to believe it’s on the way. First, the rumor comes from reputable leaker Dusk Golem, who tends to be spot on with their claims about the Resident Evil franchise. But beyond that, there’s a moment near the end of Resident Evil Requiem that feels like Capcom laying the groundwork for a return to the Spencer mansion, adding to the likelihood of another Resident Evil 1 revisit.

If Resident Evil 1 Remake actually happens, it won’t be until 2030. This is because Code: Veronica Remake is supposedly coming in 2027, Zero Remake is reportedly set for 2028, and RE10 is scheduled for 2029.

Resident Evil Leaker Explains Why Claire Redfield is Still Missing

A prominent Resident Evil leaker shares reasoning about Claire Redfield’s continued absence from the series and some good news.

Resident Evil Requiem’s ARK Contains a Room Directly Inspired by the Spencer Mansion

resident-evil-requiem-spencer-study — re9 spencer room

Resident Evil Requiem’s narrative makes Lord Spencer more integral than he has been in years, as players visit a secret Umbrella facility hidden by the Raccoon City nuke. They learn that this is where Spencer did much of his research following the spread of the T-Virus, creating the Elpis vaccine used to help Leon and the other outbreak survivors. As Grace and Leon explore ARK in the game’s final hours, the former ends up in a room clearly meant to be Spencer’s living quarters, which he’s made into a literal home away from home that’s attached to his place of work.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Per Dusk Golem, this was actually supposed to be part of an entire section of Resident Evil Requiem that felt like the RE1 mansion, and it likely would have begun with Grace Ashcroft entering this study. However, only the study survived this supposed cutting process, leading to a feeling of whiplash when players quickly enter and leave the nostalgic location. From the plentiful books and wooden decor to the iconic deer head tied to a classic puzzle, the room as it is feels like a rushed trip down memory lane. And while it was potentially cut because of Code: Veronica’s own mansion setting so that fans aren’t playing through mansion levels two years in a row, it would make even more sense if it was cut so that the next proper trip through Spencer Mansion in an RE1 Remake feels more special.

The original RE1 remake for the Gamecube released in 2002, and while it does polish up the character models and mechanics to feel more like a game of that era, it’s well over two decades old now and feels like a far cry from the recent RE Engine remakes.

The ARK Study Could Be a Sign of What’s to Come for Resident Evil

Given Zeno’s lack of boss fight and lore, some have written off the disappointing Wesker clone as Capcom simply practicing its “real” Wesker model for all the upcoming remakes. While this may not actually be the reason Zeno was introduced — the post-credits scene implies his story isn’t done yet — the same logic could be used for the Study portion of the ARK level. Even if it’s just one room, Capcom is laying the groundwork for what the Spencer mansion could look like in the proposed RE1 Remake. Perhaps it’s looking to see whether players would be interested in exploring it in first or third-person, or maybe it’s just crafting some mansion assets now that can be touched up and re-used later, but the Study area coming out of nowhere feels like a big hint at what’s to come.

While there would be reason to believe the rumors anyway, given Dusk Golem’s impressive track record, the study level certainly backs up the notion that the Spencer mansion could be rebuilt in all its glory for a future remake. Even Spencer himself being worked back into the plot in such a meaningful way feels like a way to get newer players clued in on the story’s early days before actually returning to them with CV, Zero, and RE1 remakes. While it will be a long time before players officially know if the RE1 Remake is real, it makes perfect sense given that the game’s sequels (and supposedly its prequel) are all getting an RE Engine makeover. The study within ARK is just the cherry on top for this theory, as there’s plenty of smoke to this particular fire.