The remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 were daunting to develop

Yasuhiro Anpo, director of the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes, revealed that the decision to revisit Resident Evil 2 stemmed from overwhelming fan demand to revitalize the 1998 classic. As Anpo stated, "We realized: people really want this to happen," prompting producer Hirabayashi's simple response: "Alright, we'll do it."

Initially, Resident Evil 4 was considered the starting point. However, discussions led the team to conclude that its already high acclaim and near-perfect status made significant changes too risky. The team instead focused on the older title, which required substantial modernization. This process included studying fan projects to better gauge player desires.

These doubts weren't confined to Capcom. Even after two remakes and the announcement of a third, fans expressed concern that Resident Evil 4, unlike its predecessors, didn't necessitate a remake.

While the 1990s PlayStation originals, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, featured outdated fixed camera angles and clunky controls, Resident Evil 4's 2005 release revolutionized the survival horror genre. Despite initial skepticism, the remake successfully preserved the original's essence while enhancing gameplay and narrative.

The commercial triumph and critical acclaim validated Capcom's decision, demonstrating that even seemingly untouchable games can be respectfully reimagined with a creative approach.