Renowned Japanese news anchor and avid Resident Evil enthusiast Risa Unai recently sat down with Resident Evil Requiem’s producer Masato Kumazawa and lead game designer Kenji Fukasawa. Beyond touching on Requiem’s impressive performance, Unai delved into the developers’ vision for upcoming titles, particularly regarding potential timelines and settings (source: Futaman).
While the Resident Evil franchise has adopted a narrative where characters age with each installment, Kumazawa clarified that no rigid guidelines govern this progression. “The practice of aging characters only began with Resident Evil 4. In fact, we’ve even experimented with shifting the timeline backward, as seen between Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, so we operate without any strict framework.”
“That said,” he continues, “we do calibrate the timeline based on the belief that contemporary stories enhance player immersion. The timeline also shifts depending on the characters and narratives we aim to depict in each game. Even Requiem features scenes set eight years prior, as well as earlier eras. Thus, the timeline’s future direction will hinge on the specifics of each title.”
Regarding locales, when questioned about a potential Resident Evil game set in Japan, the producer responded, “I believe a Japanese setting is something every Resident Evil fan in Japan has pondered, and I’ve given it considerable thought myself. Given that the development team is predominantly based in Japan, I’m confident every member has contemplated this possibility. Although Japan hasn’t featured as a game setting thus far, it could certainly make an appearance in the future.”
While these remain speculative notions, Kumazawa assures that regardless of the series’ future trajectory, “we won’t compromise the franchise’s core tenets, such as its characters and pivotal events, and we’ll continue to uphold what makes the series special. However, if we were to release the same game repeatedly, players would inevitably grow weary, so we’re committed to embracing new challenges moving forward.” As illustrations of such innovation, Kumazawa points to Requiem’s shifting perspectives as well as Resident Evil Village’s “afterlife” and Megamycete lore.
Moreover, although Resident Evil Requiem coincided with the franchise’s 30th anniversary and bore the impressive-sounding title “Requiem,” the developers emphasize that this was not intended to frame the entry as a definitive conclusion. “In fact, there are numerous avenues we wish to explore, including the narratives of characters absent from this installment.”