Early drafts focused on series characters like Leon and Jill before the project was rebooted and took inspiration from *The Last of Us* and the *Evil Dead* reboot.
Former Capcom manager Miguel E. Corti spoke at length on Bluesky about the development of Resident Evil 7. The title, which followed the disappointing sixth installment, is still considered the savior of the survival horror franchise.
According to information provided by Corti, development of the game began at the “height of resentment toward Japanese games.” At the time, Call of Duty dominated the industry and also influenced Resident Evil 6. While sales figures were solid, there was little satisfaction with the content. Furthermore, the zombie mode had become established in Call of Duty, which didn’t make the situation any easier.
The Last of Us Influence and Reboot: Leon, Jill, and Hunk Almost Made a Comeback
Part seven was thus shaped by the success of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. But things initially went in the wrong direction. Capcom wanted to weave the game even more deeply into the series’ existing lore, which at one point put several well-known protagonists in the running—including Leon, Jill, Rebecca, and even Hunk. “Things got so chaotic that I completely lost track of the different versions,” writes Corti.
An internal restructuring dealt the final blow to these initial ideas, and work started from scratch. Afterward, the direction was influenced by *Resident Evil: Revelations 2* as well as two canceled projects. The decision to use a first-person perspective was also made at this time.
Ultimately, the game was meant to return to its roots and focus on true survival horror, with the 2013 film *Evil Dead* serving as inspiration. Originally, the plan was for protagonist Ethan Winters to remain completely silent. However, the idea was scrapped because it wouldn’t have fit with the fact that his wife, Mia, is kidnapped and presumed dead. Corti writes that Ethan “probably reacts far too calmly” to many shocking events throughout the story, which is a remnant of this original plan.
Mia or Zoe? How a cultural clash within the team saved the opening scene
Whether you end up saving Mia or Zoe wasn’t decided until the story was “almost finished.” According to Corti, every single Japanese developer voted for Mia, while the Western team members voted for Zoe. The former manager explained to the game’s director: “She’s Ethan’s wife, not mine. He thinks she’s dead, so she cuts off his hand and tries to kill him. Zoe helped us and needs support.”
This led the team to reevaluate the plot, and Mia’s opening scene was added later so that players could build an emotional connection with her at all. The fact that, shortly after her rescue, it becomes clear just how deeply she is entangled in a sinister organization frustrated many involved—especially the story writer.
Photogrammetry Controversy Surrounding Chris Redfield: From a Slow Start to an 18-Million Hit
According to Corti, the decision to have Chris Redfield appear in the finale was also made on fairly short notice. The Umbrella logo on his sleeve was intended to spark discussion, but in the end, the character model used—which bore little resemblance to the character’s earlier look—drew more criticism. Capcom used photogrammetry (3D scans of real people) at the time but couldn’t find anyone who looked like the well-known Chris. At the same time, the team didn’t want to compromise on visual quality compared to the rest of the characters.
Resident Evil 7 got off to a slow start, selling three million units in its first year, but by June 2026, it had sold 18.4 million copies worldwide. The hype surrounding subsequent games and the dropping price led many to give the seventh installment a second look.
All in all, it was quite a turbulent development story, and the game could have looked very different from what you know.
