After months, if not years, of speculation, the next Resident Evil remake has finally shown its face, and as many people had guessed, it is none other than CODE: Veronica. This time around, Capcom has dropped the first part of the name, but is still looking to retain the original as much as possible, from the setting to the characters to the story that ties it all together. The early trailer feels very much like the Requiem debut, where we only really get a few glimpses of what's in store, without much gameplay or major details about exactly what the game entails.

However, from what we do know and what has been explicitly revealed, there is still enough there to start the hype train early. Based purely on the insane record that the franchise has had over the past few years, it is safe to say we are in for an absolute treat, especially given how highly rated and well-loved the original CODE: Veronica is among diehard Resident Evil fans. So, regardless of whether you have played the classic and are excited to see it with a new lick of paint, or a new player ready to experience a much older story with a new coat of paint, the wait for Resident Evil Veronica is almost over.

The Story

Beyond The City Outbreak

• The story between Claire and Chris is reimagined.
• Post-Raccoon City disaster.

The Resident Evil series isn't exactly known for its exceptional storytelling, but that doesn't mean there haven't been some pretty compelling tales told along the way. In the case of Veronica, we find ourselves in a post-Raccoon City world, where Clair is now searching for her missing brother Chris, yet it is clear there are still remnants of evil lurking in the shadows.

Umbrella is back and at their old tricks, testing out new technologies that, as always, go south pretty damn quickly. It's safe to say that the story will stick fairly close to the original. However, Capcom has already mentioned that there will be some reimagined elements within the narrative. One thing is for certain: we will get to experience a much darker side of the universe more dramatically and spectacularly than ever before.

Gameplay

Modern Games Demand Modern Systems

• Looks to lean more into horror than action.
• Modernized gameplay style in line with the other remakes.

From a gameplay perspective, the details for Veronica are scarce at the moment, but then again, the list of mechanics and systems is never that long anyway. Based on what we have been shown so far, as well as the rest of the publicly available information, the gameplay will feel very familiar to the other remakes and modern releases in the series, with the main difference between the original and the new version being the modernized gameplay style that makes the action feel a lot punchier.

More specifically, though, the graphics seem to have taken a nice jump, even since Requiem. It is also clear that there will be multiple perspectives throughout the experience, at least during specific cutscenes, adding some extra immersion to an already intense playthrough. I have been overjoyed by the new style of Resident Evil that we have seen in the last decade or so, and I think this installment will be yet another way for Capcom to showcase its talents in the world of horror.

The Settings

Umbrella Has Its Hold Everywhere

• France and Rockfort Island.
• Isolated settings with plenty of variety.

There are two sides to the Resident Evil coin. Some take you across the globe to Africa, Asia, or the USA, while others present a more grounded experience that usually takes place in a few specific locations. In Veronica, we will be venturing first to France, then to Rockfort Island, a prison in the middle of the ocean that serves as the perfect place to perform nefarious experiments and hide a few captives as well.

What begins as a bleak detention center quickly descends into chaos as a biological outbreak transforms the island into an apocalyptic battleground filled with abandoned barracks, underground laboratories, and gothic structures hiding dark secrets that you will have to uncover piece by piece. I much prefer these smaller-scale locations that are more tailored, and I think that, based on all the different areas seen in the original, there is plenty of room for the island to feel expansive yetclaustrophobic at the same time.

Platforms

A Long Way From A Dreamcast

• PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2.
• No word on other platforms like iOS or VR.

A lot of games and franchises have found their way onto specific consoles and platforms recently, locking many players behind an exclusive wall that, in some cases, never truly falls. Thankfully, Capcom has remained as broad as possible over the years when it comes to Resident Evil, giving most players access to their games, no matter if they are playing on a high-end gaming PC or from the comfort of their couch.

That trend continues here, as Veronica will be playable at launch on the Xbox Series, PS5, Switch 2, and PC. In the case of RE4, you can actually play through the entire game on iOS, as well as there being a VR version, so only time will tell if Claire is going to get the same treatment in her solo mission as Leon.

Release Date

When Do We Get To Welcome Back Claire?

• 2027 slated release date.
• Expectations of RE9 DLC in between.

It feels like at every other gaming event, we are being gifted with a Resident Evil game announcement, and unlike many other debuts, they almost always come with a concrete release date or window. While it would be nice to know exactly when Veronica drops, for now we only have 2027 to go off of, which is quite a broad range, but it is still a lot sooner than many people expected.

Because the RE9 DLC is still very much on the way, it is safe to assume that we will see that drop at some point between now and the release of Veronica, either towards the end of 2026 or early 2027. I, for one, am all for a much faster release schedule, and if the quality stays as high as it has been, then we may very well continue to see bangers from Capcom year after year for the foreseeable future.