Resident Evil: Veronica–a full remake of the 2000 game Resident Evil: Code Veronica–was announced during Summer Game Fest Live earlier this month, but why was now the right time to remake the survival-horror classic? For Capcom, it came down to a mixture of technology and characters.
Speaking to GameSpot during Summer Game Fest, Capcom said that there is no set process in determining which game gets a remake next, but the pieces just seemed to line up because of which characters the recent games have focused on. Leon, for instance, has been the star or co-star of the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes, as well as Resident Evil: Requiem, in recent years.
Capcom wanted to explore a different character next, and chose Claire because of that. We’ll also see Chris Redfield in Resident Evil: Veronica, who hasn’t been the protagonist or co-protagonist in a Resident Evil game since 6 back in 2012. The development team is aiming to dig deeper into the characters’ stories than it did in the original, as well, which should make it appealing to both longtime Code: Veronica fans and first-timers.
Alongside the characters, technological advancements played a key role in the decision to remake the game. The game will be played with the third-person perspective seen in the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes, which should make it much less frustrating than the original version. That game relied on the franchise’s classic tank controls, which have not exactly aged well.
Resident Evil: Veronica launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, and PC. The development team certainly has experience with the series, with much of the team having previously worked on the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes.