Capcom Shifts Gears With Resident Evil 9, Debuting Open World Gameplay

Resident Evil 9 is perhaps the most ambitious installment in the series since Capcom is likely to introduce some conceptual changes. This is evident because the development of RE9 began in 2018, and it had the biggest budget and the longest development period of any game in the series. Capcom's objective is simply "major reinvention" and setting a new standard for the single-player story-based horror genre.

According to industry insider Dusk Golem, Resident Evil 9 will not be to Resident Evil Village or Resident Evil 7. This instantly raises questions about potential changes in the gameplay perspective. While RE7 and Village chose a first-person viewpoint, and recent remakes allowed a third-person mode, RE9 might feature options where players may switch between the two perspectives.

However, rather than the camera perspectives, the gameplay mechanics may be the real breakthrough for this installment. Dusk highlighted that Resident Evil 9 will feature new gameplay elements, comparing it to Resident Evil 7, which redefined the franchise as a first-person survival horror experience, and Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake), which transformed the series with its over-the-shoulder perspective and sophisticated combat.

Not so long ago, we came from other leaks that Resident Evil 9 might include an open-world or semi-open setting based on the hub-like concept of Village. Given Capcom's recent success with Dragon's Dogma 2, it seems likely that Resident Evil 9 will feature a sizable open-world map.

Previous leaks have also hinted at a fictional island location with Southeast Asian elements, which seems ideal for an open-world survival horror game. Some have inscribed these open-world claims by calling the game's setting a "sprawling island". According to recent Dusk hints, the player choice will be given a lot of priority, possibly making this the most customizable Resident Evil game ever. Daniel RPK has previously suggested a semi-open environment rather than a full sandbox experience.

However, while an open-world setting might add more gameplay freedom, there may also be downsides. Over the years, Resident Evil's success has long been due to its linear plot and the controlled pacing of the gameplay. If players are given the option to follow the narrative or plot points at their own pace, an open-ended framework may lessen the impact of the story.

Sons of the Forest and Dying Light are other open-world horror games that have managed to strike a balance between freedom and fear. If Capcom can refine that concept to the level of a major Resident Evil game, the results could be revolutionary. Performance issues still exist, though, particularly in light of Dragon's Dogma 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds' issues.

According to Dusk, Resident Evil 9's official release is scheduled for 2025. The announcement will probably be made at the Summer Game Fest or during the June PlayStation Showcase. If this announcement happens in either of these two events, then a 2025 release seems feasible. However, given Capcom's high expectations for the game, they won't be released until it's 100% ready.

Capcom is obviously putting a lot of effort into Resident Evil 9 and aiming to be one of the most ambitious games in the franchise's history, regardless of whether the design shift is a fully open world, a semi-open world, or something else entirely.