What Is Resident Evil? Capcom's Best-Selling Survival Horror Franchise, Explained by Marine

Article

Nearly 30 years after its 1996 debut, Resident Evil just had its fastest-selling entry yet.

The Franchise That Defined Survival Horror

Resident Evil debuted in 1996, credited with establishing the survival horror genre. As of May 2026, it has sold over 201 million units worldwide, making it Capcom's single largest franchise.

A New Era of Annual Releases

"Resident Evil Requiem" (February 27, 2026) became the series' fastest-selling entry, surpassing 7 million copies within about two months. Capcom confirmed a remake, "Resident Evil Veronica," at Summer Game Fest 2026, targeting 2027, as part of a stated policy to release at least one Resident Evil title every year.

What To Know

"Resident Evil Requiem" becoming the franchise's fastest-selling entry ever, nearly 30 years after the original 1996 game, shows the series is still growing its audience rather than just maintaining a legacy fanbase.

Capcom's stated annual-release policy for Resident Evil, mixing new titles and remakes, reflects a broader industry strategy of keeping a flagship franchise continuously visible in the market rather than spacing out releases years apart.

What Fans Are Saying

• "201 million units for one franchise is staggering."
• "Requiem being the fastest-selling entry after 30 years is impressive."
• "Excited for the Veronica remake."

Original Japanese

• 「累計2億本というのは圧倒的な数字ですね」
• 「30年経ってなお最速ヒットというのはすごいです」
• 「ヴェロニカのリメイクが楽しみです」

Easy Japanese

「バイオハザード」は、1996年に始まったカプコンのホラーゲームシリーズです。カプコン最大のヒットシリーズとなっています。