In mid-2024, speculation surfaced regarding a potential remake of Resident Evil Zero, the iconic survival horror title from 2002 that acts as a prequel to the Resident Evil series. The rumors were ignited by prominent insider Dusk Golem, who claimed that development of this unannounced remake commenced following the release of the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4. Furthermore, it was suggested that Resident Evil – Code: Veronica was also receiving a makeover. Initially, skepticism surrounded these assertions; however, IGN later corroborated the claims, indicating that both remakes were indeed in progress.
Recently, Dusk Golem provided updates about these rumors on Twitter, sharing insights into the future direction of the Capcom franchise. He expressed that it is “highly likely”Nintendo would acquire marketing rights for the potential Resident Evil Zero remake. While he emphasized that this was merely “educated speculation,”it piqued the interest of the broader Resident Evil community. Should this speculation hold true, it would not mark the first collaboration between Nintendo and Capcom, as both companies enjoyed a successful partnership during the GameCube era.
Nintendo and Capcom: A Historical Collaboration on Resident Evil
Resident Evil: Once an Exclusive on Nintendo Consoles
Despite its long-time presence on Nintendo consoles, the Resident Evil franchise has often been perceived as a title more aligned with PlayStation. This perception primarily stems from the franchise’s early installments that were exclusively released on PlayStation consoles. Even though the series has expanded across multiple platforms over the years, recent promotional efforts have predominantly highlighted PlayStation.
In contrast, during the early 2000s, several Resident Evil titles were exclusively available on GameCube, including Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil (2002), and the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 4. Notably, RE4 was part of a strategic initiative known as the Capcom Five—an exclusive lineup developed to boost the GameCube’s market presence. This alliance aimed to strengthen Nintendo’s relationships with third-party developers at a time when the GameCube was struggling with sales.
Strengthened Ties: Nintendo and Capcom Today
While the Capcom Five initiative did not achieve the anticipated results, leading to a waning relationship between Nintendo and Capcom, the current landscape illustrates a different story. With the phenomenal success of the Nintendo Switch and expectations building around its next-generation console, a rumor suggesting that Nintendo might gain marketing rights for the Resident Evil Zero remake seems plausible. Although exclusivity similar to that of the Capcom Five is unlikely, such a collaboration would represent a significant revival of their partnership.
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