14 DAY TRIAL // Gamers worldwide (and especially in Japan) are just dying to see what Resident Evil 5 looks and plays like, having fallen in love once more with the franchise, after the last installment's release (Biohazard 4). Everyone was pretty sure that Capcom was already working hard on the Resi 5, prepping to launch it towards the end of 2008. That's not the case unfortunately, as Capcom's Jun Takeuchi has confirmed that 2009 is the earliest launch date they can forecast at the moment.
The news comes straight from TeamXbox.com, who says that "In the latest issue of japanese magazine Famitsu, Capcom's producer Jun Takeuchi has revealed that Resident Evil 5 won't be ready next year. Since 2010 would be too late for the game to launch, they expect to ship the fifth installment in the Resident Evil series sometime in 2009."
Here are some facts about the game's development:
- Jun Takeuchi, the director of Onimusha and producer of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, will take over producer duties from Hiroyuki Kobayashi.
- Keiji Inafune, who served as promotional producer for Resident Evil 2 and executive producer for Resident Evil 4's PlayStation 2 version, is overseeing the project.
- In February of 2007, members of Capcom's Clover Studio were also called upon to help develop the game. However, many developers from the studio have moved on to work on the upcoming Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, which will debut for the Wii.
- Several staff members who also worked on the original Resident Evil are involved in development. According to Takeuchi, the game will utilize the same gameplay model introduced in Resident Evil 4, while implementing the thematic from the original Resident Evil into the game.
- Capcom revealed a brief new trailer for the game at this year's E3. They concluded the screening by stating that Resident Evil 5 will not be released anytime in 2007. Another trailer for the game will be available on Xbox 360 Marketplace on July 26, 2007.
- Finally, the July 27, 2007 issue of Weekly Famitsu reveals the possibility for the game's release date to be pushed to 2009.
That's just about everything you need to know about Resident Evil 5 for the moment. Oh, I almost forgot, the reporting site also says that Takeuchi has "confirmed that former S.T.A.R.S. member Chris Redfield returns for this game, which takes place five years after the first Resident Evil game." OK, now you know everything.