Resident Evil 7’s Creators Share Insights on Its Last of Us Influence and Development Challenges
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly ten years since Capcom revitalized the Resident Evil franchise with the seventh main installment. After the mixed reception of Resident Evil 6, it seemed like the iconic horror series might be finished, but then Capcom pulled off a remarkable turnaround with Resident Evil 7. However, the game wasn’t without its issues, which one former developer has now detailed, shedding light on the challenging development process it underwent.
In a lengthy discussion about Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, former Capcom manager Miguel Corti shared an even more extensive thread revealing the behind-the-scenes journey of this bold series reinvention. If you’re up for it, you can dive into the entire 66-post thread, which covers a range of topics from other games to character discussions.
Corti explained that the initial vision for Resident Evil 7 was less radical than what ultimately emerged. Rather than a soft reboot, the plan was to continue the story from the criticized Resident Evil 6. “What was going to be the solution for RE7?” Corti noted, “More Leon and more Umbrella connections!” There were even discussions about bringing back characters like Rebecca Chambers and Jill Valentine. Despite the negative reviews, Capcom was motivated to stick with the style of Resident Evil 6 because it had sold exceptionally well.
A significant influence on the early concepts was Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. While Capcom executives were satisfied with RE6, the development team aimed for critical acclaim, believing a more narrative-driven single-player experience would achieve that. However, the complex franchise lore led to creative stagnation, which was only resolved when Capcom reorganized and mandated a complete overhaul of RE7.
The new iteration of Resident Evil 7 that emerged post-reorganization involved a fresh team, a new director, and an external writer. It was then decided that the game would adopt a first-person perspective. “That was a bombshell of an idea for an RE game, but it fit perfectly with gaming trends at the time.” This phase also introduced the single-house setting and the Baker family. Some concepts that made it into the final game reportedly lacked narrative coherence, which Corti believes contributed to the game’s disjointed storytelling.
The relationship between protagonist Ethan and his wife Mia drew inspiration from The Last of Us, where Joel’s loss of his daughter sets the tone. Capcom thought Ethan’s quest to find his presumed-dead wife would evoke similar emotions. However, Corti pointed out issues with Mia’s character, feeling players lacked a genuine connection to her and that her backstory was confusing. This was eventually addressed by linking her to the broader Resident Evil lore, particularly through Umbrella’s involvement.
Ultimately, the version of Resident Evil 7 that fans know today was finalized. Despite being credited with reigniting interest in the series, Capcom was initially disappointed with its sales. Fortunately, the game has since become a top seller for the company. Corti acknowledged that many of the game’s evident flaws were recognized during development but were largely overlooked, with team members striving to ensure it succeeded.
Corti’s detailed thread provides a rare glimpse into the challenges a major game developer faces when reinventing a struggling franchise. While fans are generally pleased with the final product of Resident Evil 7, it’s intriguing to learn about the extensive effort and numerous iterations that led to its creation.
