- Recent Capcom titles like Village and RE 4 remake have shown promising steps toward open world gameplay.
- The integration of a pursuing enemy in an expansive environment could reinvent traditional Resident Evil horror elements.
- Capcom has maintained a notable silence regarding the future of Resident Evil, leaving fans eager for updates. The 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 proved to be a remarkable achievement, successfully modernizing the revolutionary original while preserving its core essence. Following the RE4 remake's triumph, many anticipated swift announcements about the franchise's next direction. The studio finally confirmed the development of the ninth main installment earlier this year, with RE: Village director Koshi Nakanishi leading the project. However, details beyond this remain scarce. Prior to the announcement, speculation about Resident Evil 9 had been widespread, with persistent rumors suggesting a shift toward open world design. While this would be unprecedented for the series, Capcom has demonstrated its willingness to evolve the franchise's formula. Should Resident Evil 9 indeed become the first true open world entry, it presents an exciting opportunity to reimagine one of RE's most tension-building elements: the relentless stalker enemy. Additional leaks have suggested that remakes of Resident Evil 0 and Code: Veronica are in development, potentially pushing Resident Evil 9 further down the timeline.
Why Now is The Perfect Time For Resident Evil to Experiment With an Open-World
The series has shown remarkable adaptability throughout its history, and current indicators suggest the time may be right for an open-world evolution.If Resident Evil 9 Goes Open World, It Opens the Door For a Pursuer Enemy to Naturally Follow
The Potential of Resident Evil 9 Possibly Being Open World
The prospect of Resident Evil 9 adopting an open world format presents both opportunities and challenges. This significant departure from the series' trademark confined, linear design - a style that Resident Evil pioneered and maintained throughout its history - risks diluting some of its distinctive atmosphere. However, recent entries like Resident Evil Village and the RE 4 remake (particularly the latter) have already begun exploring more expansive environments, suggesting a natural progression toward this new direction.Both titles demonstrated how an expansive world design could harmonize with RE's core elements while maintaining its signature thrills. If Capcom successfully balances the series' foundational elements with open-world mechanics, it could forge an innovative experience that propels the franchise forward, particularly in its approach to pursuing enemies.
How Resident Evil 9 Could Incorporate Stalkers Into An Open World
The concept of relentless pursuers has become synonymous with the series, and incorporating a stalker enemy similar to Nemesis or Mr. X in Resident Evil 9 could effectively bridge traditional RE elements with this potential new direction. A common critique of the RE 3 remake centered on Nemesis's encounters feeling overly scripted rather than natural, which diminished the tension. An open-world Resident Evil 9 could address this limitation by implementing a stalker system that feels more organic and dynamic, taking full advantage of the expanded environment.Recent leaks have suggested the presence of a stalker-type enemy in Resident Evil 9, and while such information should be approached cautiously, the inclusion of such an adversary seems plausible. Drawing inspiration from games like Alien: Isolation, where the pursuer's artificial intelligence actively analyzes and responds to player behavior and location, could create genuinely unpredictable and tension-filled encounters. This approach would maintain the series' signature suspense even within more expansive environments.
The larger scale of an open world could even support multiple pursuing enemies, each controlling distinct territories, similar to but expanding upon the concept of the four lords in RE Village. These stalkers could dynamically appear anywhere within their designated regions, responding to player movements and choices. While transitioning to an open world represents a bold evolution for the series, it presents an opportunity to reimagine the classic stalker mechanic in a way that embraces more freedom while preserving the atmospheric horror that has defined Resident Evil throughout its history.
