Rumors are swirling that Resident Evil 9 will release in late 2024 and feature a bevy of classic protagonists from the long-running franchise. The information comes courtesy of Twitter user Chris Marx, a fairly new player in the field of video game leaks. Bearing that in mind, all of this information should be taken with a healthy dose of salt. He begins by stating that the title will feature several classic characters including “Claire, Jill, Leon, and Chris” while noting that Chris specifically will be the protagonist of the game.
Classic characters such as Claire, Jill, Leon, and Chris (Protagonist) will return in the upcoming Resident Evil game. Players will also have the chance to play as other characters in certain missions. The game is expected to focus less on horror and more on action.
— Chris Marx (@MarxxChris) June 18, 2023
Despite specifically calling out Chris Redfield as the game’s primary protagonist, Marx notes that players will “have the chance to play as other characters in certain missions.” Whether this means optional side content, main story sequences, or optional character swapping is left unclear.
Should these rumors be true, fans should also be excited by another scoop Chris Marx provided, stating that Capcom is poised to start development on remakes of Code Veronica and Resident Evil 5, after Resident Evil 9 as well. Many fans have been clamoring for remakes of both titles, particularly Code Veronica as it was originally released in 2004.
Capcom will also likely start working on Code Veronica Remake and possibly RE5 remake at some point in the future.
— Chris Marx (@MarxxChris) June 18, 2023
Also read: Resident Evil 4 Remake Review – Controlled Chaos (PS5)
Whether Resident Evil 9 will be in first person like the previous two entries seems to be an unknown, according to Marx. While he states that the game will have less of a horror focus and be geared primarily toward action, he assures fans that it will still be a horror game. He mentions in the same tweet that there is a chance the game will allow players to freely switch between first-person and third-person gameplay, and that he expects the title to release in late 2024.
It will still be a horror game. The camera mode is yet to be confirmed, but there is a possibility that players may have the option to choose between third-person and first-person perspectives. I expect it to release later in 2024, Capcom should start talking this year.
— Chris Marx (@MarxxChris) June 18, 2023
Resident Evil 9: The Return of the Queens?
Longtime fans of the franchise would likely welcome Jill Valentine’s return in Resident Evil 9 with open arms. Despite being one of the protagonists of the original Resident Evil, she has been absent from the franchise for quite some time. Aside from the remake of Resident Evil 3 in 2020, her last appearance in a brand new title was Resident Evil: Revelations in 2012. However, that game was set in 2005, so the last time fans saw her in-universe was as a side character in Resident Evil 5, released and set in 2009.
Jill would not be alone in making a much-deserved return with Resident Evil 9. Claire Redfield has been similarly absent for quite a while. She first appeared in 1998’s Resident Evil 2, then later appeared as the main protagonist of Resident Evil – Code: Veronica, too. After, that, however, she did not appear in a game again until Resident Evil: Revelations 2, set in between Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6.
Neither Jill nor Claire appeared in any of Resident Evil 6‘s four campaigns, despite the game bringing together several former protagonists. Both will be making appearances in July of this year in the CGI movie Resident Evil: Death Island, which takes place two years before Resident Evil VII: biohazard and features several beloved protagonists from the games, including Chris, Leon, and Rebecca Chambers, as well.
Also read: Resident Evil 4 Remake – All Skippable Sections Guide Part One
This class reunion of many of the franchise’s most popular characters would seem like a natural progression following the ending of Resident Evil Village, which itself set up a potential plotline for Resident Evil 9 that would pit Chris Redfield against the B.S.A.A., the anti-bioterror organization he and Jill helped found together. This could be a natural way of bringing together the many protagonists against a common and personal enemy.
While all of this news is potentially very exciting to Resident Evil fans, it is always good to keep in mind that neither Resident Evil 9 nor any further remakes have yet been confirmed by Capcom, so take it with a grain of salt.
Are you excited that Jill and Claire may be returning in Resident Evil 9? Would you like the series to stay in first-person or revert back to third-person? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and on our social media feeds!
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
