Will there be a Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake?

Sam Smith
Resident Evil Code Veronica

A Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake still remains a possibility, here’s everything we know from what Capcom has said and more.

For many fans, a Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake was expected after the RE3 Remake and before Capcom pulled the trigger on a remake of Resident Evil 4. However, the spin-off is yet to receive the same treatment that the other older RE games have, and is now starting to feel like a lost chapter in the franchise.

To those who played it, Resident Evil: Code Veronica is a fully-fledged RE game and is just as important as the mainline or numbered entries. From a story point of view, Code Veronica marks some pretty significant turning points in the franchise and introduces some new gameplay elements.

Also, despite being a Dreamcast / PS2-era game, Code Veronica is also considered the final chapter of the Raccoon City saga that started on PS1 before Resident Evil was soft rebooted by Resident Evil 4. While Raccoon City was ashes by the time this game rolled around, it continued plot threads from the first RE trilogy. As many fans believe it deserves a remake, here’s everything we know about the likelihood of this.

Contents

Claire Redfield in Code Veronica
Claire is captured by Umbrella after invading one of their facilities.

Will there be a Code Veronica remake?

In an interview with Noisy Pixel, RE4 remake producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi was asked about this lost chapter in the Resi universe. He responded by saying that while there are currently “no concrete plans to develop Resident Evil Code Veronica Remake,” if “opportunity comes, maybe.”

While this is disappointing for Code Veronica fans, it’s important to point out that after RE4, Capcom is running out of Resident Evil games to remake. Games like RE5, 6, and beyond are likely too recent to warrant a remake – and perhaps not popular enough.

Code Veronica was passed over for the remake treatment in favor of Resident Evil 4. This makes sense, as RE4 is considered a high point of the series, just like RE2.

Some fans may have been disappointed or confused if Capcom had opted to remake RE: CV over RE4, which may explain why the game was ignored. Although, CV is arguably just as valued by the fan base as other Resi games and essential to the series lore.

Now that the Resident Evil 4 remake is here, the calls for a Code Veronica remake have got louder, especially on social media with many fans considering this as the final chance to remake the game. Or that Capcom should do CV before considering RE5.

During a shareholder meeting, when asked about its plans for further remakes, Capcom said they were, “carrying out discussions regarding the future expansion of this series so it can be enjoyed by a wide audience.”

While this didn’t address Code Veronica specifically, it implies that Capcom is looking at a range of options when it comes to future and potential remakes. A Resident Evil 5 remake could prove problematic for the company, therefore it’s likely that Capcom either has or is considering the viability of a Code Veronica remake.

The fan support of the idea could also factor into Capcom’s decision. After all, it was this that encouraged them to remake Resident Evil 2, which the other remakes followed soon after.

Capcom could turn its attention to other games in their survival horror back-catalog like Dino Crisis, the developer could have one final roll of the dice by finally greenlighting a Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake.

Albert Wesker in Resident Evil: Code - Veronica
Albert Wesker returned in Resident Evil Code: Veronica.

What is Resident Evil: Code Veronica?

Released in the year 2000, Code Veronica was a sequel to both RE2 and RE3 set just weeks after the destruction of Racoon City. It caught up with RE2 protagonist Claire Redfield in Europe while she was searching for her brother Chris.

The game was set several years before RE4 and dealt with a lot of the fallout from the original three games. Claire is eventually captured by the Umbrella Corporation, who are at war with returning villain Albert Wesker. This then leads to another viral outbreak with zombies, monsters, Tyrants, etc.

Code Veronica was originally planned to be Resident Evil 3 but was later retooled into a canonical spin-off when Capcom ordered another game to be made on PS1 using existing assets from RE2. This would then become the RE3 we know today, while Code Veronica was developed for the Dreamcast, and then PS2.

The release of Resident Evil 4 meant that Code Veronica was no longer considered the fourth main entry in the series, and the game became increasingly obscure. The events from RE: CV continued to be referred to in games like RE5 and The Darkside Chronicles, but as the series moved on, the game was left behind.

RE Code Veronica
Code Veronica HD still holds up quite well today on modern systems.

Leaks & rumors

In November 2023 a Reddit post shared a claim from 4chan by someone saying they were a Japanese game tester, revealing that the author had been invited to play a remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica and was able to see the opening sections of the game.

The post reported that the game’s intro and premise were similar to the previous game, but that it was used as a tutorial rather than a cutscene. This is not unlike the RE2 and RE3 remakes opening sections.

They went on to describe that both playable characters Claire Redfield and Steve Burnside had different skills and that the player could switch between them at will.

Of course, this is simply a Reddit claim and has not been backed up or confirmed by Capcom, so take it with a pinch of salt.

A more substantial rumor came from AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem, who has a long history of providing accurate Resident Evil leaks. In a post on Twitter/X, Dusk Golem revealed that both Code Veronica and Resident Evil Zero are receiving remakes.

If Dusk Golem’s leak is to be believed, then Capcom’s Division 1 is working on the Code Veronica remake. This is the same studio behind the Resident Evil 4 remake, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and the upcoming Pragmata.

While Dusk Golem has a good track record, not everything he’s reported has come true in the past. However, this leak plus the current trend of Resident Evil remakes, makes the possibility of a RE: CV remake more likely than ever.

The insider also shot down rumors of a potential Resident Evil 1 remake, claiming Capcom was more interested in the prequel, RE Zero.

A matter of days after Dusk Golem’s claim, a retail listing on Play Asia appeared for Resident Evil Code: Veronica, as well as one for Resident Evil 5 and Zero remakes on PS5. The list also listed a game called Resident Evil 9: Revenent Shadows.

Take this with a huge tablespoon of salt though, as it’s unlikely that Capcom would announce three Resident Evil remakes and the next sequel at once, let alone list them together with a vendor.

Whilst the remakes have long been rumored to be in development, the former includes a hitherto unknown subtitle, “Revenant Shadows”, “preliminary” cover art, and a description of the game.

Capcom has also confirmed that more Resident Evil remakes are indeed coming, making Code Veronica, Zero, and Resident Evil 5 the most likely contenders.

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