Resident Evil has seen more than a few remakes and re-releases since it first launched back 1996. However, the latest edition shows that people are still hungry to play this classic title on newer platforms. An enhanced HD revamp of the 2002 Gamecube remake of the original game was released digitally last month, bringing its classic brand of horror to PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. This wide level of availability apparently worked in Capcom’s favor, as they recently released a statement announcing that the resurrected classic is the fastest selling digital title in the company’s history.
In a separate announcement, Sony revealed that Resident Evil HD was the top selling digital game in January on both the PS3 and PS4, taking the number one spot on the charts, despite its release being late in the month. It also broke the record for highest selling launch day, giving the companies involved with the game more than a few reasons to be happy. Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi put out a special message on YouTube today, thanking fans for their passion and support for the game that he and the development team worked hard on.
Hirabayashi also mentioned the upcoming release of Resident Evil Revelations 2 later this month, a game that follows closely in the footsteps of the original Resident Evil unlike the more recent, action heavy entries in the franchise. Series creator Shinji Mikami has said before that this shift to more action-oriented gameplay came about due to apparently poor sales of the 2002 remake and subsequently the high sales of Resident Evil 4, the first game in the series to incorporate more action into it’s gameplay. This change in direction has left a bad taste in the mouths of more than a few fans of the series, but the commercial failure of the action-packed Resident Evil 6 and the success of the more traditional Resident Evil Revelations seems to be heralding a shift back towards the franchise’s roots. It’s hard to say for sure of course where the series is headed until Capcom announces a proper Resident Evil 7, but the huge success of the recent remake will hopefully further enforce this return to form
In the meantime, you can pick up Resident Evil HD Remaster for $20 bucks on the platform of your choice. You also still have until tomorrow to get tons of other entries in the franchise for cheap on the PlayStation Store. If all of this still isn’t enough Resident Evil content to satisfy you, the first episode of Resident Evil Revelations 2 will be dropping on the 24th for Sony consoles, with Microsoft consoles and PC getting it a day later on the 25th. Hopefully all of this can satiate the hunger of even the most ravenous Resident Evil fan.
