UPDATE: Capcom PR has informed us that the VR zombie game that will be on display at Hub Zero in Dubai is in fact not associated with Capcom or Resident Evil. This mixup was due to a mistranslation resulting from the original article. The Hub Zero location in Dubai will feature “innovative experiences created in association with world-famous video game developers including Electronic Arts, Capcom, KONAMI, Microsoft and Square Enix” according to a February press release, but the Resident Evil: Bio Terror experience will not be of the VR variety. Capcom PR described Resident Evil: Bio Terror as an “attraction.” The VR zombie game that will appear at Hub Zero is actually Time Zombies from VRcade and VRStudios. For more information, here is the official response from Capcom regarding the mistranslation:
Meraas, based in Dubai, announced last week that it would join forces with several game publishers to create rides and attractions at its gaming theme park – Hub Zero. Resident Evil and Asura’s Wrath will be two of the iconic brands present at Hub Zero when it opens later this year. The wireless VR experience Meraas announced at the same time, Time Zombies, is not related to Capcom IP.
While this does mean that the VR zombie game in question coming to Hub Zero in Dubai is not Resident Evil related, the fact that Capcom’s internal development team is working diligently on bringing the iconic franchise to VR remains unchanged.
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ORIGINAL HEADLINE: ‘Resident Evil: Bio Terror’ Announced as a VR-Exclusive Zombie Shooter
ORIGINAL STORY: Capcom is no stranger to experimentation. In recent years they’ve taken some of their most popular franchises, such as Resident Evil and Devil May Cry, in brand new directions. Historically, they’ve also produced some of the most popular and well-known game franchises of all-time. That’s why it was no shock when, a few months ago, they announced the Resident Evil team would soon start focusing on VR gaming.
The first fruit of that labor appears to be a VR game by the name of Resident Evil: Bio Terror, which is reportedly coming exclusively to not only VR, but exclusively to a VR entertainment center in Dubai only, at least for now. Word has also leaked that this is supposedly targeting an on-rails shooting gallery approach, rather than an exploration-based survival horror design. Think of something similar to House of the Dead.
As you can easily tell on the Resident Evil wiki, the series has a long and storied relationship with bioterrorism. This new game could easily take place at any point in the game’s timeline, since prequels and concurrent sequels are a fluent second language for the development team at this point.
It’s also worth noting that the series isn’t new to this style of game either, as Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles was an on-rails shooter as well that appeared on the Nintendo Wii utilizing motion controllers. Knowing that much seems to indicate that this game could likely target a release on the PSVR at the very least – especially given Capcom and Sony’s existing relationships. The PlayStation Move controllers would be a perfect implement and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is already an excellent proof of concept for that style of game.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Resident Evil 5’s producer, Jun Takeuchi, stated:
At present, we are focusing our energy on challenging the virtual reality (VR) game market. In this terrifying world, you can twist and turn as you like, but there’s no escaping the creatures closing in on you…Currently, we are building a new game development engine able to support VR, which is the hottest market right now, while simultaneously developing titles for current game consoles. We have just set sail on our latest voyage.
I’d find it hard to believe that Capcom would limit their voyage to a niche arcade in Dubai. Then again, VR arcades are all the rage right now. Time will tell, but my gut points toward an eventual home platform release. After all, we all know what happened when they said Resident Evil 4 was an exclusive to the Nintendo Gamecube. Now you can play that game on every platform under the sun.
