capcom annual release strategy
IndustrySource
Capcom wants to release a Resident Evil every year and sees remakes as the way to make it happenComments
Suppose the remakes allow them to iterate on mechanics that eventually bleed into the new titles. Could this filler actually be a form of low risk R&D for the franchise?
But can we actually call it an annual strategy... isn't there a gap between the RE4 remake and the next major project that suggests they aren't actually hitting that every single year?
RE4's sales figures support the OP. The profit margins on remakes are significantly higher because the core level design and narrative are already solved problems.
The problem is how this hits the digital storefronts. Everything just blends together into one big Resident Evil hub, making it harder for people to find the actual new entries versus the polished old ones.
This isn't about pipeline filler. It's a hedge against the rising cost of AAA development. Why gamble on a new IP when you can monetize nostalgia with 90 percent less risk?
Capcom did something similar with the Street Fighter series years ago. They would release Ultra or Hyper versions of the same game to bridge the gap between numbered entries.