It’s pretty clear that Japanese developer Capcom likes to experiment with its biggest franchises from time to time, and Resident Evil has got to be one of the best examples of that. The series actually went first-person before Resident Evil 7: Biohazard with the PlayStation 1s Resident Evil Survivor, and questionable multiplayer offers have never been far off. The highly forgettable Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City and Resident Evil Resistance are proof of that. Not the best lineup of spin-offs, then, but to suggest that they are all bad would do a selected sub-series a serious disservice. When you look back on it Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil Outbreak: File # 2 were really ahead of their time. On PlayStation 5, a reboot makes too much sense.
For those of you who don’t know, these PlayStation 2 titles were online-focused co-op experiences with a number of different scenarios in different locations, featuring classic Resident Evil puzzles and enemies. The whole package was essentially a bunch of different miniature Resident Evil games in one, each taking about three to four hours to complete. You could play as many different characters with unique weapons and attributes attached to them, and there was even a mechanic where you could get bitten by a zombie and then you would only have a limited amount of time to complete the scenario before it took over T-Virus. Pretty cool, right?
Now no wizard is needed to identify the problem here. Two online heavy games released on PS2? Yes, they will never take off. Although they could be played in single player, the Resident Evil Outbreak titles were designed around cooperative play, so they really got what they deserved on PC. After all, I don’t know anyone who owned the PS2 network adapter. There was not even a voice chat.
However, times have changed and with an internet connection as the default in 2021, I think Resident Evil Outbreak is ready for a reboot. If Capcom were to use the same model as in 2003, we could have a real winner on our hands. Just imagine a collection of these Resident Evil scenarios offered at launch, which is then replenished with DLC every few months. The base game should be pretty tough, with at least five or six locations to complete, but then the world is your oyster in terms of post-launch support. Add a new character here, another weapon or item there. Then there would be a whole new scenario to work through a few times a year. Keep the concept the same and I’d be all over it – damn, bring back some of the areas from the two original games. I would like to visit that prison card and the zoo again.
So with Capcom preparing a Resident Evil showcase for next week that will include details for a 4-6 player online mode seemingly separate from Resident Evil Village, I’m dreaming big. The Outbreak concept makes way too much sense for the multiplayer world we live in today – I really can’t think of a better match. And that’s why it will never happen. The closed beta in question will be something complete and totally different from this one, crushing my dreams. Capcom hasn’t teased or hinted at a reboot at all, but I can hope and pray, right?
Do you also want to see Resident Evil Outbreak make a comeback? What do you think it would look like on PS5? Post your theories in the comments below.