Image from Resident Evil 7Image used with permission by copyright holder
Resident Evil 8has not been officially announced yet, but the game will reportedly be turning to the first-person perspective adopted byResident Evil 7. With this view giving players less environmental awareness, it could make for another tense and terrifying survival horror game.
According to the popular fan channelResidence of Evilon YouTube,Resident Evil 8will be a first-person game, in contrast to the third-person perspective used by theResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3remakes.
InResident Evil 7, the first-person view meant players had to turn completely around to see behind the character, leading to chilling moments when they turned around to see if anything appeared. The change did not make the game a true first-person shooter, with a very limited amount of ammunition making it still feel like a horror game above all else. It receivedcritical acclaimand stands as Capcom’sfourth-best-selling gameever.
Because the rumor also made mention of several environments, including a village and castle, it’s possible there will be more open-ended areas inResident Evil 8.Resident Evil 7took place almost entirely in one house, which led to many jump-scares around the corners of hallways and behind closed doors. Larger environments would seemingly make this more difficult for a first-person game, as players will have a clearer view of the danger that possibly lies ahead.
In contrast, the third-personResident Evil 3features open environments in Raccoon City, but is an action-oriented horror game. Combining first-person gameplay with these environmentsandclassic horror gameplay will not be easy, though Capcom’s recent track record should inspire confidence.
The still-unconfirmed information that Residence of Evil mentioned in the video was backed up by popular gaming news Twitter userNibellion, who said he had heard similar news and that it could have leaked from a 2019 play-test. The rumors also saidResident Evil 7‘s Ethan Winters will return as protagonist, with Chris Redfield also playing a role.
It will be a while before the leak proves to be accurate as Capcom finishes development onResident Evil 3, a remake of the 1999 original game made in the RE Engine. It’s due to release on April 3, so it is possible we will hear aboutResident Evil 8a few months later during E3 2020.
