Capcom’s Next Chapter and a Possible Resident Evil 7 Remake
Capcom’s Resident Evil series remains a powerhouse of fresh horror and clever remixes, with the ninth mainline entry, tentatively titled Resident Evil Requiem, in development and slated for release next year. In a recent conversation with VGC, Koshi Nagaishi—the director who helmed Resident Evil 7—delved into ideas that could influence a potential remake of the game, as well as broader implications for the ongoing RE universe. The interview underscored a willingness to revisit past chapters as Capcom maps out a path into the future.
What Nagaishi Shared About the Baker Family and a Director’s Cut
Nagaishi spoke candidly about content that was cut during the original development of Resident Evil 7. He remarked: “There was also a character, another member of the Baker family, who we ended up having to cut from the game, so with a remake we could maybe add them back in.” He added a further tease that could entice fans of the mansion saga: “Lucas was supposed to have a girlfriend who lived with them, and she would play a part in the story. I think it would be interesting to produce a Director’s Cut with that content added back in.”
Remake vs Director’s Cut: What Could This Look Like?
The concept of a Resident Evil 7 Remake or a Director’s Cut hinges on balancing nostalgia with modernized mechanics. A Resident Evil 7 Remake would aim to preserve the game’s intimate, claustrophobic atmosphere and its unsettling Baker family lore, while updating visuals, controls, and enemy behavior to meet contemporary standards. Reintroducing a cut Baker family member and Lucas’s would-be girlfriend could deepen character motivation, widen the cast of unsettling figures, and offer fresh narrative angles without straying from the core tension that defined the original.
A Director’s Cut, in particular, could serve as a testing ground for new content, allowing players to experience the familiar story with expanded subplots, alternative routes, or additional scares. It would also align with Capcom’s history of iterating on beloved titles, preserving the tone that resonated with players while injecting new life through refined gameplay loops and enhanced presentation.
How This Could Fit Into the RE9 Era
With Resident Evil Requiem in development, fans naturally ask how a potential RE7 remake would fit into Capcom’s long-term strategy. A well-crafted remake could reconceptualize the Baker house as a modern entry point into a connected RE universe, offering a bridge between the intimate horror of seven and the broader threats faced in subsequent installments. If the project materializes, it could inform future design choices for RE9—perhaps shaping pacing, stealth benchmarks, and tension-building sequences that ripple into the next major release.
What Content Might Return or Evolve?
Returning Baker family members and the girlfriend character could unlock new dialogues, side quests, or alternate endings. Such additions would need to be integrated with care to preserve the game’s psychological horror and avoid feeling like fan service. A remake could also refine inventory management, lighting, and enemy AI—areas where older entries sometimes show their age—while retaining the emotional beats that made the house feel haunted, not just scary.
Industry Expectations and Fan Reception
Remakes and Director’s Cuts have become a familiar pattern for the series, often welcomed by fans eager for deeper lore and improved gameplay. The Baker household remains a touchstone for many players, remembered for its nerve-jangling atmosphere and surprising twists. If Capcom moves forward with a Resident Evil 7 Remake or a Director’s Cut, it will face the challenge of pleasing long-time followers while drawing in newcomers with streamlined mechanics and contemporary production values.
Bottom Line
At present, there is no official confirmation of a Resident Evil 7 Remake, but director Koshi Nagaishi’s comments have sparked strong interest in the idea of revisiting the Baker family’s story. Whether in the form of a full remake or a Director’s Cut, the possibility of returning to Resident Evil 7’s world—with added characters and new context—has captivated fans as Capcom continues to expand the RE saga with Resident Evil Requiem and beyond. Stay tuned for official updates as Capcom outlines its next moves for the series.
