How Resident Evil Remakes Revived the Biggest Horror Franchise – And Why RE9 Could Be the Best Yet

Explore how Resident Evil remakes skyrocketed sales past 170 million units, cementing its status as gaming's top horror series, with RE9's innovative
How Resident Evil Remakes Revived the Biggest Horror Franchise – And Why RE9 Could Be the Best Yet
The Resident Evil franchise, launched by Capcom in 1996, has sold over 170 million units worldwide as of 2025, generating around $11 billion in revenue across games, films, and merchandise. Remakes of classics like RE2, RE3, and RE4 have driven this explosive growth, pulling in tens of millions of new sales while revitalizing the survival horror genre. Now, Resident Evil 9 (also called Resident Evil Requiem) is building massive hype with fluid perspective-switching, new protagonist Grace Ashcroft, and Leon S. Kennedy's return, positioning it as potentially the series' pinnacle. Origins of Resident Evil Resident Evil debuted on PlayStation, introducing survival horror with fixed cameras, resource scarcity, and the Spencer Mansion's zombie-infested halls. It sold over 5 million copies despite initial mixed reception for tank controls. Early sequels like RE2 (over 11 million sold in remake form) expanded the lore around Raccoon City and Umbrella Corporation, blending puzzles, c…