The 25th anniversary of the Resident Evil series is happening soon, and Capcom has big things lined up for 2021 and beyond. The original Resident Evil was released on the PlayStation in 1996, spawning the survival horror genre by streamlining elements from Alone in the Dark and Sweet Home into an action-packed experience.
There are a number of big video game anniversaries happening in 2021. While it's unclear if all of them will be celebrated - no one is expecting any news regarding Castlevania or F-Zero on their anniversaries, after all - Capcom has been pushing the Resident Evil franchise over the past few years, especially following the success of the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes. There are several Resident Evil games in development, and there are rumors that more are waiting to be announced.
The Resident Evil franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. The original game was released on March 22, 1996, so Resident Evil's 25th anniversary will occur on March 22, 2021. Capcom kicked off the celebrations early, with costumes from Resident Evil 2 appearing in The Division 2, but the company has also said it has other things in store for later in the year.
How Will Capcom Celebrate The Resident Evil 25th Anniversary?
Capcom revealed during TGS 2020 that it will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Resident Evil series "starting" on March 22. It's unclear if this means new announcements will drop on that day, especially as the pandemic might have stalled plans. Even if things kick off on March 22, some of the bigger announcements might be pushed back until later in the year. Capcom has Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil Re:Verse, and a Resident Evil TV show coming in 2021, so the year is already stacked with Resident Evil content.
There is a lot of speculation that Capcom will announce a Resident Evil 4 remake on March 22. Resident Evil 4 is one of the most popular entries in the series, and a remake announcement would be a suitably huge reveal for the anniversary. It's also possible a remake of Resident Evil - CODE: Veronica or a new entry in the Resident Evil: Revelations series could be announced. 2021 is already a huge year for Resident Evil, so it's likely that any new game announcements will be for projects planned for different years down the line. Capcom's main focus is likely promoting Resident Evil Village, as that's due to be released in May, but the anniversary celebrations could still be focused on making fans excited for the future of the Resident Evil franchise.