Yes, according to multiple reports from reputable sources including The Guardian, IGN, and Game Rant, Capcom did indeed develop and test an open-world version of Resident Evil prior to ultimately scrapping the project. The concept reportedly emerged in the mid-2010s, around the same time Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was being developed. Capcom explored the idea of creating a more expansive, open-world experience in the Resident Evil universe—potentially inspired by the success of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2. The team worked on prototype builds, gameplay mechanics, and world design to see if the open-world format could successfully capture the survival horror roots of the franchise. However, after extensive internal testing, Capcom concluded that the open-world format clashed with the core elements of the Resident Evil series—such as tight pacing, atmospheric tension, and environmental storytelling—especially in a horror context. Open-world design often encourages exploration and freedom, which can dilute the fear and dread that define the franchise. Additionally, balancing the horror experience with large-scale environments proved challenging. As a result, the project was quietly shelved. Instead, Capcom doubled down on its strengths—tight, linear narratives and claustrophobic environments—leading to the development of Resident Evil Village and later confirmed plans for Resident Evil 9, which is expected to return to a more traditional, story-driven structure. So while the open-world Resident Evil never saw the light of day, it’s a fascinating "what-if" in the franchise’s history—and a testament to Capcom’s willingness to experiment, even if it meant abandoning a bold idea.

It sounds like Resident Evil: Requiem is shaping up to be a bold return to form for the franchise—reconnecting with its roots while still carrying the weight of what could have been. The revelation that Capcom once explored an open-world, online multiplayer version of the game is both fascinating and telling. It underscores how much the studio wrestled with balancing innovation against legacy. While the idea of a multiplayer Resident Evil might have excited some fans, the decision to pull back and embrace the series’ core survival horror DNA was likely the right one—especially given how integral atmosphere, tension, and limited resources have always been to the franchise’s identity.

The scrapped open-world concept—featuring multiple protagonists, intense co-op combat, and urban exploration in Raccoon City—would’ve been a radical departure. Imagine teaming up with a partner to survive hordes in a decaying metropolis, scavenging through abandoned police stations, malls, and downtown streets haunted by grotesque creatures. That kind of gameplay could’ve felt fresh—maybe even groundbreaking. But as Nakanishi and Kawata suggest, it wasn’t true to the soul of Resident Evil. The franchise thrives on isolation, dread, and the constant fear of being outnumbered. An open world with persistent online players might’ve diluted that.

Instead, the final product—a single-player, narrative-driven experience set in a familiar yet reimagined Raccoon City—feels like a deliberate reboot of the series’ emotional and psychological core. With FBI agent Grace Ashcroft as the lead, and hints of Leon S. Kennedy potentially making a cameo (or a more prominent appearance in later segments), Capcom seems to be blending reverence with reinvention.

Tomonori Takano’s emphasis on urban settings and modern architecture is a smart narrative choice. Raccoon City has always been more than just a backdrop—it’s a character. Its decay mirrors the series’ themes of corruption, government failure, and unchecked bioterror. By placing the story in concrete canyons and flickering city lights, Capcom is likely aiming to make the horror feel more intimate, more immediate—less "out in the woods" and more "this could happen anywhere."

That said, the ambiguity around Leon’s role is a masterclass in marketing subtlety. Fans have long speculated about his return—especially after his emotional arc in Resident Evil 6. But since he doesn’t fit the tone of a tightly wound, isolated horror experience, his absence from the main campaign might not be a loss. Still, a single playable sequence in a more action-oriented arc—perhaps in a DLC, a prologue, or a hidden chapter—could be the perfect way to honor his legacy without breaking the game’s mood.

As for the cancelled multiplayer build? While we’ll never see it, the fact that it existed—and that they prototyped it—adds a layer of depth to the game’s development history. It reminds us that even franchises built on fear and isolation have explored what it means to survive together. That tension between cooperation and isolation might just be the soul of what Resident Evil has always been about.

So while we may not get an open-world Resident Evil, we might just get something better: a game that dares to scare us again—quietly, slowly, and with a city full of ghosts.

And when that door creaks open… you’ll know it’s real.