Resident Evil 5 has grabbed headlines again, thanks to a fresh ESRB rating that’s igniting fan speculation about a possible return. This newer rating is focused solely on an Xbox Series X/S version, even though the game is already accessible on these next-gen Microsoft consoles via backward compatibility since there’s no native setup yet.
Intriguingly, the ESRB has recently rolled out similar ratings for other Resident Evil classics like RE6, RE7, and the Resident Evil Origins Collection.
As Resident Evil 5 inches closer to its 16th anniversary on March 13th, it’s important to rewind a bit. Initially launched on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009, the game expanded to PC later that year. There’s been constant online chatter about a possible remake by Capcom, but nothing has hit the market so far.
Just this past February 10th, a new age classification by the ESRB was spotted by Twitter’s vigilant Wario64. Staying true to its roots, the game retains its mature 17+ rating. What sticks out, however, is that only Xbox Series X and Series S are mentioned in this latest classification. This has some gamers hoping Capcom might be cooking up a native version for these consoles, though it’s far from confirmed.
Interestingly, several aged gems from the Resident Evil franchise also experienced rating refreshes as the year turned. Besides Resident Evil 5, titles like Resident Evil 6, 7, and the Origins Collection have all received updated ratings, exclusively indicating their compatibility with the Xbox Series X/S. This fuels the thought that it could simply be a routine update from the ESRB.
Casting further doubt on a possible native revamp is an inconsistency in the renewed classifications. Resident Evil 7, for example, already has a tailored version for today’s Microsoft consoles, from its release back in 2022. While this doesn’t completely dash hopes of a Resident Evil 5 revival, if it hinted at greater plans like a full remake or remaster, you’d expect more platforms to be on the list than just Xbox’s newest.
Talk of a Resident Evil 5 remake isn’t new, but it remains to be seen if such plans are actually in Capcom’s pipeline. Leaks from insiders like Dusk Golem suggest ongoing projects to remake Resident Evil Zero and Code Veronica, casting a shadow on the likelihood of an immediate RE5 update while still focusing on advancing the primary series.
Resident Evil continues to captivate audiences worldwide, and with the potential for more remakes down the road, fans are eagerly waiting to see what direction Capcom will take next.
