In a move that continues their trend of reviving beloved franchises, Capcom is allegedly working on a brand new entry in the Dead Rising series, according to fresh industry reports.
A Return to Form
The new project, which is said to be a full sequel and not a remaster, will reportedly take the controversial step of ignoring every game in the series that came after the original 2006 hit. This strategy of returning to a franchise's roots has become increasingly common in the horror genre.
The initial leak came from the generally reliable outlet MP1st and has been partially corroborated by VGC. Their sources suggest Capcom is developing a zombie action sequel featuring the return of photojournalist Frank West, who has always been the most popular protagonist in the series.
The game is currently operating under the codename 'Rec' and will also feature other returning characters, such as Isabela Keyes. The setting is rumoured to be an enclosed Hollywood movie lot, with the main antagonist described as an 'extravagant and deranged film director' who is fully aware of the zombie threat and is using it to create his 'perfect movie'.
Classic Mechanics Make a Comeback
Fans of the original game will be pleased to hear that the new title is set to reintroduce the time limit mechanic that defined the first Dead Rising but was largely removed from subsequent sequels. This feature created a unique sense of urgency and strategic planning as players raced against the clock in a zombie-infested mall.
Frank West will also make prominent use of his camera, a signature element of his character. While not directly confirmed, the implication is that the mechanic of saving survivors will also return, adding to the game's emergent storytelling possibilities.
The director antagonist is said to be forcing people and actors to perform special trials amidst the chaos, using the real-life zombie outbreak as his backdrop.
Capcom's Revival Strategy
This rumour fits perfectly with a recent pattern observed at Capcom. The company has been using remasters of older titles to gauge current interest in a franchise before committing to a full new game. If the remaster performs well, a new entry is often announced.
This was the case with Onimusha, which received a remaster in 2018 and later confirmation of a brand new game. Following this pattern, last year's Dead Rising remaster may have been the testing ground that led to this new sequel. While an official announcement could come relatively soon, the game itself is thought to be several years away from release.
Capcom's recent success has given them the confidence to revive what seemed like dead franchises. A new Onimusha is scheduled for next year, and Ōkami is also getting a sequel from the original director. The company has also created entirely new IPs like Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess and the upcoming Pragmata.
However, this revival strategy has yielded mixed results for other Capcom franchises. While the Mega Man Battle Network remaster was reportedly much more popular than expected, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective didn't perform as well, and the future of Ace Attorney remains unclear.
Sadly for fans of the cult classic Dino Crisis, Capcom's dinosaur-themed survival horror series remains conspicuously absent from this revival trend. There has been no remaster or any indication from the company that they are interested in saving this particular franchise from extinction.
