Editing Resident Evil (section)

== History ==
{{Timeline of release years
| range1        = 1996
| range1_color  = #df260a #ccc <!-- colors are based on the series' logos -->
| 1996  = '''''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]'''''
| 1998  = '''''[[Resident Evil 2]]'''''
| 1999  = '''''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]'''''
| 2000a = ''[[Resident Evil Survivor]]''
| 2000b = '''''[[Resident Evil – Code: Veronica]]'''''
| 2001a = ''[[Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica]]''
| 2001b = ''[[Resident Evil Gaiden]]''
| 2002a = ''[[Resident Evil (2002 video game)|Resident Evil]]'' (remake)
| 2002b = '''''[[Resident Evil Zero]]'''''
| 2003a = ''[[Resident Evil: Dead Aim]]''
| 2003b = ''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]''
| 2004  = ''[[Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2|Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2]]''
| 2005  = '''''[[Resident Evil 4]]'''''
| 2006  = ''[[Resident Evil: Deadly Silence]]''
| 2007  = ''[[Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles]]''
| 2009a = '''''[[Resident Evil 5]]'''''
| 2009b = ''[[Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles]]''
| 2011  = ''[[Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D]]''
| 2012a = ''[[Resident Evil: Revelations]]''
| 2012b = ''[[Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City]]''
| 2012c = '''''[[Resident Evil 6]]'''''
| 2015  = ''[[Resident Evil: Revelations 2]]''
| 2016  = ''[[Umbrella Corps]]''
| 2017  = '''''[[Resident Evil 7: Biohazard]]'''''
| 2019  = ''[[Resident Evil 2 (2019 video game)|Resident Evil 2]]'' (remake)
| 2020a = ''[[Resident Evil 3 (2020 video game)|Resident Evil 3]]'' (remake)
| 2020b = ''[[Resident Evil: Resistance]]''
| 2021  = '''''[[Resident Evil Village]]'''''
| 2022  = ''[[Resident Evil Re:Verse]]''
| 2023  = ''[[Resident Evil 4 (2023 video game)|Resident Evil 4]]'' (remake)
}}

The development of the first ''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]'', released as ''Biohazard'' in Japan, began in 1993 when [[Capcom]]'s [[Tokuro Fujiwara]] told [[Shinji Mikami]] and other co-workers to create a game using elements from Fujiwara's 1989 game ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'' on the [[Family Computer]] (Famicom) in Japan.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Reeves |first=Ben |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/12/04/resident-evil-was-originally-in-development-for-the-snes.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204220314/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/12/04/resident-evil-was-originally-in-development-for-the-snes.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |title=Resident Evil Was Originally In Development For The SNES |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=2017-12-04 |access-date=2023-04-16 }}</ref><ref name="Gamespot-Mikami">{{Cite web |last=Butterworth |first=Scott |date=March 22, 2016 |title=Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami Reflects on the Series' Roots |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-creator-shinji-mikami-reflects-on-th/1100-6435918/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref> When in late 1994 marketing executives were setting up to release ''Biohazard'' in the United States, it was pointed out that securing the rights to the name ''Biohazard'' would be very difficult as a DOS game had been [[Bio Menace#Development|registered under that name]], as well as a New York hardcore punk band called [[Biohazard (band)|Biohazard]]. A contest was held among company personnel to choose a new name; this competition turned up ''Resident Evil'', the name under which it was released in the west.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/gr-asks-why-was-biohazard-renamed-resident-evil/|title=GR Asks: Why was Biohazard renamed Resident Evil?|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|date=April 8, 2009}}</ref> ''Resident Evil'' made its debut on the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] in 1996 and was later ported to the [[Sega Saturn]].

The first entry in the series was the first game to be dubbed a "[[survival horror]]", a term coined for the new genre it initiated,<ref name="GSREH">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/res_evil/index.html | title = The History of Resident Evil | author = Justin Speer and Cliff O'Neill | website = [[GameSpot]] | access-date = 2009-04-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080906213420/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/res_evil/index.html | archive-date = September 6, 2008 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and its critical and commercial success<ref>{{cite magazine|quote=The "multi-million dollar franchise... Evil Capcom's largest" and "the original ''Resident Evil''" is "one of the most important games of all time." |magazine=Game Informer |issue=174 |date=October 2007|page=132|title=Enter The Survival Horror... A Resident Evil Retrospective}}</ref> led to the production of two sequels, ''[[Resident Evil 2]]'' in 1998 and ''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]'' in 1999, both for the PlayStation. A port of ''Resident Evil 2'' was released for the [[Nintendo 64]]. In addition, ports of all three were released for [[Windows]]. The fourth game in the series, ''[[Resident Evil – Code: Veronica]]'', was developed for the [[Dreamcast]] and released in 2000, followed by ports of ''Resident Evil 2'' and ''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis''. ''Resident Evil – Code: Veronica'' was later re-released for Dreamcast in Japan in an updated form as ''Code: Veronica Complete'', which included slight changes, many of which revolved around story cutscenes. This updated version was later ported to the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[GameCube]] as ''Code: Veronica X''.

Despite earlier announcements that the next game in the series would be released for the PlayStation 2, which resulted in the creation of an unrelated game, ''[[Devil May Cry]]'', Mikami decided to make the series exclusively for the GameCube.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/residentevil/review.html |title=Resident Evil for GameCube Review |website=GameSpot |date=April 29, 2002}}</ref> The next three games in the series—a [[Resident Evil (2002 video game)|remake of the original ''Resident Evil'']] and the prequel ''[[Resident Evil Zero]]'', both released in 2002, as well as ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'' (2005)—were all released initially as GameCube exclusives. ''Resident Evil 4'' was later released for Windows, PlayStation 2, and [[Wii]].

A trilogy of [[GunCon]]-compatible [[light gun]] games known as the ''Gun Survivor'' series featured [[first person (video games)|first-person]] gameplay. The first, ''[[Resident Evil Survivor]]'', was released in 2000 for the PlayStation and PC but received mediocre reviews.<ref>{{cite web |website=IGN |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/163/163923p1.html |title=''Resident Evil Survivor'' Review |date=September 14, 2000 |access-date=January 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201220752/http://psx.ign.com/articles/163/163923p1.html |archive-date=December 1, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The subsequent games, ''[[Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica]]'' and ''[[Resident Evil: Dead Aim]]'', fared somewhat better.<ref>{{cite web |website=GameSpot |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/residentevildeadaim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208233247/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/residentevildeadaim/ |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |title=''Resident Evil: Dead Aim'' Review |date=June 16, 2003 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''Dead Aim'' is the fourth ''Gun Survivor'' game in Japan, with ''Gun Survivor 3'' being the ''[[Dino Crisis]]'' spin-off ''[[Dino Stalker]]''. In a similar vein, the ''Chronicles'' series features first-person gameplay, albeit on an on-rails path. ''[[Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles]]'' was released in 2007 for the Wii, with a sequel, ''[[Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles]]'' released in 2009 (both were later ported to the PlayStation 3 in 2012).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/resident-evil-chronicles-hd-collection/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3|title=Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection|work=metacritic.com}}</ref>

''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]'' is an [[online game]] for the PlayStation 2, released in 2003, depicting a series of episodic storylines in Raccoon City set during the same period as ''Resident Evil 2'' and ''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis''. It was the first in the series and the first survival horror game to feature [[Cooperative video game|cooperative gameplay]].<ref name="reeves1">{{cite magazine|last=Reeves|first=Ben|title=Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer's Edition Preview|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/12/30/guinness-world-records-2012-gamer-s-edition-preview.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106132501/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/12/30/guinness-world-records-2012-gamer-s-edition-preview.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=January 6, 2012|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|access-date=December 31, 2011|date=December 30, 2011}}</ref> It was followed by a sequel, ''[[Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2|Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2]]''. Raccoon City is a metropolis located in the Arklay Mountains of the Midwestern United States that succumbed to the deadly T-virus outbreak and was consequently destroyed via a nuclear missile attack issued by the United States government. The town served as a critical junction for the series' progression as one of the main catalysts to Umbrella's downfall and the entry point for some of the series' most notable characters.

{{anchor|Resident Evil Portable}}
''[[Resident Evil Gaiden]]'' is an [[action-adventure game]] for the [[Game Boy Color]] featuring a [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]]-style combat system. There have been several downloadable [[Mobile games in the Resident Evil series|mobile games]] based on the ''Resident Evil'' series in Japan. Some of these mobile games have been released in North America and Europe through T-Mobile. At the [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]] press conference during [[E3 2009]], ''Resident Evil Portable'' was announced for the [[PlayStation Portable]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/989/989522p1.html |title=E3 2009: Resident Evil PSP Announced |date=June 2, 2009 |author=Thomas, Lucas M. |work=[[IGN]]  |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123061600/http://psp.ign.com/articles/989/989522p1.html |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174532 |title=PSP Gets Resident Evil Portable in 2010 |publisher=1up.com |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105223653/http://www.1up.com/news/psp-resident-evil-portable-2010 |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/zombies-infecting-psp-in-resident-evil-portable/ |title=Zombies infecting PSP in Resident Evil Portable |publisher=Joystiq |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2010}}</ref> described as a new game being developed with "the [[PSP Go]] in mind" and "totally different for a ''Resident Evil'' game". No further announcements have been made, and the game is considered to have been canceled.<ref>{{cite web | author=Reilly, Jim | date=June 9, 2009 | title=New Resident Evil PSP Details Emerge | url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/992/992945p1.html | work=IGN.com | access-date=April 7, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316042805/http://psp.ign.com/articles/992/992945p1.html | archive-date=March 16, 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Spencer | date=June 8, 2009 | title=Resident Evil Portable "Totally Different For A Resident Evil Game" | url=http://www.siliconera.com/2009/06/08/resident-evil-portable-totally-different-for-a-resident-evil-game/ | work=Siliconera.com | access-date=April 7, 2010}}</ref>

In 2009, ''[[Resident Evil 5]]'' was released for [[PlayStation 3]], [[Windows]] and [[Xbox 360]], becoming the best selling game of the franchise despite mixed fan reception. Capcom revealed the [[third-person shooter]] ''[[Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City]]'', which was developed by [[Slant Six Games]] for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows and released in March 2012. A [[survival horror]] game for the [[Nintendo 3DS]], ''[[Resident Evil: Revelations]]'', was released in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/296595/news/resident-evil-revelations-out-2012-new-concept-art/ |title=Resident Evil: Revelations out 2012, new concept art |date=April 3, 2011 |author=Jackson, Mike |work=[[ComputerAndVideoGames.com]] |publisher=[[Future Publishing Limited]] |access-date=April 21, 2011}}</ref> In October of the same year, the next numbered entry in the main series, ''[[Resident Evil 6]]'', was released to mixed reviews,<ref name="ignreview">{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/10/01/resident-evil-6-review|title=IGN Review: Resident Evil 6|author=Richard George|website=IGN|date=October 1, 2012|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> but enthusiastic pre-order sales.<ref name="ResEv6Sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/03/resident-evil-6-ships-4-5-million-copies-worldwide/|title=Resident Evil 6 Ships 4.5 Million Copies Worldwide|publisher=Siliconera|date=October 3, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2012}}</ref>

In 2013, producer Masachika Kawata said the ''Resident Evil'' franchise would return to focus on elements of horror and suspense over action, adding that "survival horror as a genre is never going to be on the same level, financially, as shooters and much more popular, mainstream games. At the same time, I think we need to have the confidence to put money behind these projects, and it doesn't mean we can't focus on what we need to do as a survival horror game to meet fan's needs."<ref>{{cite news | first = Daniel | last = Krupa | title = Resident Evil Will Return To Its Roots | date = January 31, 2013 | publisher = IGN | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/31/resident-evil-will-return-to-its-roots | work = ign.com | access-date = July 10, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Resident Evil: Revelations 2]]'', an episodic game set between ''Resident Evil 5'' and ''Resident Evil 6'', was released in March 2015. A series of team-based multiplayer games were developed beginning with the [[List of video games notable for negative reception|poorly received]] ''[[Umbrella Corps]]'', which was released in June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/91287/tgs-2015-resident-evil-umbrella-corps-will-help-usher-in-series-20th-anniversary|title=TGS 2015: Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps will help usher in series' 20th anniversary|first=Ozzie|last=Mejia|date=September 15, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2015|work=[[Shacknews]]}}</ref> ''[[Resident Evil: Resistance]]'' was released in April 2020, followed by ''Resident Evil Re:Verse'' in October 2022, with both being available for free to those who bought ''Resident Evil 3'' and ''Village'' respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=September 16, 2019 |title=Capcom producer says Project Resistance is 'survival horror at its core' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/capcom-producer-says-project-resistance-is-survival-horror-at-its-core/ |access-date=September 29, 2019 |publisher=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Tanner |date=2022-10-21 |title=Resident Evil Re:Verse Teases Ambitious Post-Launch Plans |url=https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-reverse-post-launch-plans/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US}}</ref>

Using the new [[RE Engine]], which would develop the next generation of ''Resident Evil'' games, the series continued to shift back towards more horror elements. The next mainline game, ''[[Resident Evil 7: Biohazard]]'' was released for [[Windows]], [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]] in January 2017.<ref name="NAEUJP2">{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=October 13, 2016 |title=Capcom begins 'The World of Resident Evil 7' short video series |url=http://gematsu.com/2016/10/capcom-begins-world-resident-evil-7-short-video-series |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016234522/http://gematsu.com/2016/10/capcom-begins-world-resident-evil-7-short-video-series |archive-date=October 16, 2016 |website=Gematsu}}</ref><ref name="turnleft2">{{cite web |date=June 14, 2016 |title=FEAR COMES HOME AS CAPCOM ANNOUNCES RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard |url=https://www.turnleft.net.au/news/fear-comes-home-as-capcom-announces-resident-evil-7-biohazard/ |website=Turn Left Distribution |access-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421134000/https://www.turnleft.net.au/news/fear-comes-home-as-capcom-announces-resident-evil-7-biohazard/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Set in a dilapidated mansion in Louisiana, the game uses a [[First-person narrative|first-person perspective]] and emphasizes horror and exploration over action, unlike previous installments.<ref name="polygon22">{{cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=June 15, 2016 |title=Resident Evil 7's demo content won't be in the main game, but a new hero will |url=http://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/15/11940734/resident-evil-7-biohazard-e3-2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615063922/http://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/15/11940734/resident-evil-7-biohazard-e3-2016 |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</ref><ref name="re7-201322">{{cite web |last=Nunneley |first=Stephany |date=March 23, 2017 |title=Resident Evil 7 cut content: zombies who reacted to breathing, the Baker's pet dog Diane |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/03/23/resident-evil-7-cut-content-had-zombies-who-reacted-to-breathing-and-the-bakers-had-a-dog-named-diane/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170531022323/https://www.vg247.com/2017/03/23/resident-evil-7-cut-content-had-zombies-who-reacted-to-breathing-and-the-bakers-had-a-dog-named-diane/ |archive-date=May 31, 2017 |website=[[VG247]]}}</ref><ref name="eurogamer2">{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=June 15, 2016 |title=If you like lots of guns in Resident Evil, 7 isn't for you |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-06-15-if-you-like-lots-of-guns-in-resident-evil-7-isnt-for-you |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616051742/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-06-15-if-you-like-lots-of-guns-in-resident-evil-7-isnt-for-you |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref><ref name="healing play2">{{cite web |last=Osborn |first=Alex |date=June 15, 2016 |title=E3 2016: Resident Evil 7 Teaser Demo Not Part of the Main Game |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/15/e3-2016-resident-evil-7-teaser-demo-not-part-of-the-main-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615205248/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/15/e3-2016-resident-evil-7-teaser-demo-not-part-of-the-main-game |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref> The first-person perspective continued in the eighth mainline game ''[[Resident Evil Village]].'' Released in May 2021, the game, set in a mysterious European village, is a direct sequel to ''Resident Evil 7: Biohazard'' although it incorporates more action elements inspired from ''Resident Evil 4''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Resident Evil 8 announced at PS5 reveal event |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/11/21286852/resident-evil-8-village-trailer-release-date-capcom |website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mercante |first1=Alyssa |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Resident Evil 8: Village revealed and we're screaming |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/resident-evil-8-reveal/ |website=GamesRadar+}}</ref> The game also marked the franchise's debut on [[PlayStation 5]] and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Webb |first=Kevin |date=2021-05-05 |title='Resident Evil Village' is the most visually stunning game of the PlayStation 5 era so far |work=[[Business Insider]] |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/resident-evil-village-review-ps5-xbox |access-date=2021-12-19}}</ref>

A new generation of remakes of older entries began in 2019 with a [[Resident Evil 2 (2019 video game)|remake of ''Resident Evil 2'']], being released for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The remake outsold the original game within a year, selling over five million copies.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kerr |first1=Chris |date=December 11, 2019 |title=Resident Evil 2 remake has passed 5 million sales |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/355522/Resident_Evil_2_remake_has_passed_5_million_sales.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211214652/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/355522/Resident_Evil_2_remake_has_passed_5_million_sales.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=11 December 2019 |website=Gamasutra}}</ref> Following in the success of the ''Resident Evil 2'' remake, Capcom revealed a remake of ''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'' in December 2019, known as ''[[Resident Evil 3 (2020 video game)|Resident Evil 3]]''. It was released in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=December 10, 2019 |title=Resident Evil 3 remake announced: watch the first trailer |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/12/10/21003545/resident-evil-3-remake-announcement-trailer-release-date |access-date=September 10, 2019 |publisher=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> In June 2022, a [[Resident Evil 4 (2023 video game)|remake of ''Resident Evil 4'']] was announced, and released on March 24, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resident Evil 4 Remake Revealed, Releases In March 2023 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-4-remake-revealed-releases-in-march-2023/1100-6504090/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref>