Resident Evil 7 Info - Everything You Need to Know

Resident Evil 7 pre-order

2016 marked an historic year for the Resident Evil series. Last March, Capcom’s horror flagship celebrated 20 years of nightmare fuel and scaring the bejesus out of horror fans the world over.

But if the RE franchise is accredited with coining the term ‘survival horror’, Resident Evil 7 represents the chance for the series to reclaim its industry-defining heritage, crawling past modern pretenders to the genre’s blood-drenched throne (read: Outlast, Amnesia, etc.) in the process. Ditching the action and blockbuster spectacle that has defined more recent instalments, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is gunning for a more intense, old-school affair, placing players in the grubby boots of a protagonist — Ethan, in this instance — who is cripplingly vulnerable. A date with the sinister Baker family awaits, and

There’s also the chance that RE7 could become one of the first marquee, AAA titles for PlayStation VR, given Capcom’s franchise revival is playable front-to-back using Sony’s device — if you dare. And so, in anticipation of its PS4 launch on January 24, we’ve scoured the four corners of the internet — and the PSLS archives — to compile Everything You Need to Know about Resident Evil 7.

Resident Evil 7 claws onto PS4 (and PSVR!) on January 24, 2017, a date it currently shares with the western port of Yakuza 0. Of the two, which are you more likely to pick up? Do let us know.

Essential Reading:

Resident Evil 7 info dump

Resident Evil 7 - Everything You Need to Know

Horror comes home on January 24 and to prepare, we've compiled Everything You Need to Know about RE7. Let's get to it.
What is Resident Evil 7?

Codenamed Biohazard in Japan, Resident Evil 7 is the latest entry into Capcom’s horror flagship that’s set to course-correct the franchise as a whole.

It's not necessarily a reboot, but with its first-person perspective and emphasis on scares over spectacle, RE7 harkens back to the Resident Evils of old.
What’s the Story?

Resident Evil 7 will thrust an ordinary person into extraordinary circumstances, it seems, with players controlling Ethan Winters, an unassuming citizen caught up in the incident at the Dulvey Haunted House.

Taking place in America’s Deep South, Ethan is on the hunt for his missing wife -- a woman named Mia Winters who was reported dead three years prior. Cue the nerve-shredding terror.

Development on RE7 first started back in 2014 and now, three years later, we’re only days away from the sequel’s launch.
The Baker Family

Meet the Baker family, a Texas Chainsaw Massacre-esque arrangement of cannibals and twisted religious nuts.

They reside in a crummy old mansion somewhere in America's Deep South -- sounds familiar, right? -- and though RE7's core antagonists draw inspiration from all kinds of tried-and-tested horror tropes, the Bakers are no less terrifying.

Demented, hungry and nigh on relentless, Jack Baker is the axe-wielding patriarch baying for blood. His target? You, of course, and Papa Baker won't let anyone or anything stand in his way. With Resident Evil 7, expect the unexpected.
Old-School Design

Harkening back to yesteryear, the Baker House, in all of its crummy, grotesque glory, evokes memories of famous Spencer Mansion in that players will soon find that there are a multitude of doors and avenues lying in wait.

Because who doesn't love getting lost in a house teeming with cannibals and gnarly secrets?
From Third to First-Person

Stressing the importance of placing players smack bang in the epicentre of horror, Resident Evil 7 Producer Masachika Kawata outlined the reasoning behind the switch from third to first-person.

"The final game is also entirely in first-person perspective. This is driven by the concept of Resident Evil 7, which is a return to horror. At this particular time in games, it was determined that first-person was the most advantageous way to present horror to the player. When confronting the enemy, there's no barrier between you and the enemy. This also applies to exploration and gimmicks and traps and things like that. They felt that it really gets you up close and personal with everything, which adds to that horror element."
Beginning Hour Demo Not Part of Main Game

Soon after its debut last summer, Capcom was quick to clarify that the Beginning Hour demo won't be a part of the main game.

“Just to make it clear first and foremost: [the demo] is not actually a slice from the game, it isn’t the opening sequence of the game or anything like that. We really wanted to focus on what concepts we wanted players to understand about the game with the demo and that’s horror, obviously. So this is kind of like a tonal preview of what to expect in the game, rather than a little bit of the game content you’re getting in advance.”
Down With the

Gone are the "obscure puzzles" from the Beginning Hour demo, with Resident Evil Producer Masachika Kawata noting that the imminent horror game strikes a “good balance" between challenge and difficulty.

I think compared to previous puzzles the players are going to have to think a little bit further for the puzzles but rest assured we aren’t going to include these insanely obscure puzzles that you see in the demo. We feel as though there’s a good balance in terms of the puzzles that you see in the main game.
1080p/60fps Across the Board, HDR Support Confirmed

Resident Evil 7 biohazard producer Masachika Kawata has confirmed that the horror title will 1080p and 60 frames-per-second on both, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. HDR support will also be available across PS4, PS4 Pro and the Xbox One S.

"When it comes to new hardware, I think that the biggest takeaway is just making sure that it’s not just one party that is excited about this product. It really has to be a mutual interest on both the manufactures side, publisher side, [and] consumer side. And only when everyone is on board and everyone’s excited for the product does it allow the opportunity to expand the game industry and the user base. Because otherwise it’s just a lot of extra effort on our side."
Capcom

Don't expect RE7 to indulge in classic cameos, with Leon voice actor Matt Mercer noting:

"I think it’s also good of them, especially coming off of [Resident Evil 6] and its lukewarm reception, to go ahead and reestablish their roots and maybe start an original story. And if they decide that that does well, maybe they can then marry it in with the previous stories."
Inventory Management and Green Herbs

Despite the switch to first-person, there are still many familiar elements to be found in Resident Evil 7, including inventory management and those iconic green herbs.

"You mention green herbs, that’s just one of the things that are going to be featured in it that will make you think of past titles. And even the gameplay system, even though it’s being substantially refreshed and updated we are keeping that link to that legacy – whether it comes from stuff like inventory management and so forth it’ll be the sort of thing you expect from a Resident Evil game. Even though we haven’t necessarily shown off all those aspects just yet, in the content we’ve shown you so far."
Resident Evil 7 Almost Featured the Supernatural

Though the series was built on the T-virus and flesh-munching zombies, at one point Capcom considered introducing the supernatural into Resident Evil 7.

Here's what Producer Masachika Kawata had to share:

“We haven’t turned Resident Evil into a ghost story,” he said. “At the beginning we did consider everything, though – and wondered what we could bring in for more of a supernatural dimension. But we didn’t end up going down that route.”
A Clear Vision

Puzzle-solving, exploration, managing limited resources in a horrifying situation -- all hallmarks of the Resident Evil franchise, and Capcom is confident numero 7 will deliver the goods.

“I think the timing was good, I think the fans were really hungry for a return to the roots as well.

“We want to take it in a new direction, as much as we can, while at the same time saying, ‘This is still that same universe that you know and love.'"
Season Pass
Available for $29.99 on its own, the Resident Evil 7 Season Pass comes packing the following content:
- Banned Footage Vol. 1
  Nightmare
  Bedroom
  Ethan Must Die
- Banned Footage Vol. 2
  21
  Daughters
  Jack’s 55th Birthday
- Additional Story Episode
Free Story DLC

Outside of the game's Season Pass, a free piece of DLC known as Not a Hero will hit Japan soon after launch. No word yet on whether the content pack will make its way west, but we'll keep you posted.
No Microtransactions to Speak Of

While there's a truckload of pre-order incentives for Resident Evil 7, Capcom has confirmed that the game won't feature microtransactions whatsoever.
PS4 Pro Support Confirmed

As previously confirmed, Resident Evil 7 will feature PS4 Pro support at launch, with the company's official statement reading as so:

"Great news everyone! Resident Evil 7 biohazard will support PlayStation 4 Pro with 4K and HDR graphics!"
PSVR Support

Much to the delight of adrenaline junkies the world over, Resident Evil 7 will be playable front-to-back through PSVR.

“Allowing you to play the entire game from start-to-finish on PlayStation VR, Resident Evil 7 dares you to step inside its terrifying nightmare and get closer to the horror than you ever thought possible.

“For those with nerves of steel, PlayStation VR will immerse you in the suffocating atmosphere of a deep south American community with a terrible secret. Explore its vivid decaying environments as you would your own home and prepare to come face to face with evil.”
Exclusive to PSVR for One Year

Resident Evil 7's virtual reality mode is exclusive to PSVR up until January 2018.
Lofty Sales Expectations

Citing “very good” pre-order numbers, Capcom’s EMEA Marketing Director Antoine Molant is confident Resident Evil 7 can sell — and that’s sell, not ship — four million copies on just the first day.

“Ideally, we’d love to sell 4m on day one globally. That would be great. Looking at what we see in the pre-orders and trends these days, we’re pretty confident we are going to get there. All the signs that we have seen across the market, whether it’s from the UK or from other territories, are very positive so far. We’re not sitting back and relaxing at all because we want to push that. The confidence is there.”
ESRB Rating

Rated M for--MOTHER OF GOD TURN THE CONSOLE OFF AND DOUS IT IN FLAMES…sorry, Mature — and you can find the official, slightly spoiler-ish description below.

“This is a survival-horror game in which players assume the role of Ethan, a man searching for his missing wife in a derelict mansion. From a first-person perspective, players explore the environment and use pistols, shotguns, flamethrowers, explosives and chainsaws to kill mutant creatures. Combat is accompanied by realistic gunfire, screams of pain, and exaggerated blood-splatter effects. As players progress through the story, cutscenes can depict instances of gore and intense acts of violence: a character’s arm dismembered by a chainsaw; a man’s leg taken off at the knee with a shovel; a character impaled through the face with a shovel. Some areas also depict mutilated corpses with exposed organs/viscera. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” are heard in the dialogue.”
There's No Place Like Home

The latest RE7 trailer is designed to welcome you home in the most horrifying way imaginable.

Here's an extract from the video's caption: “Come inside into the warm, friend. You’re late for supper, and it’s about time we introduced you to our little family.”
Live-Action Trailer

A short, sweet, and suitably horrifying live-action trailer for Resident Evil 7 can be found right here.
Extended Gameplay

Curious to get a feel for how Resident Evil 7 actually plays? This extended, 8-minute demo ought to sate your appetite.
Trophy List

The official Trophy list for Resident Evil 7 has found its way online ahead of schedule. It's riddled with spoilers, so continue at your own risk.
GameStop Pre-Order Invokes Retribution

And not the nasty kind. For those in the US, one of RE7's many pre-order incentives opens up a free digital copy of Resident Evil: Retribution via GameStop.

More details:

For PS4 and Xbox One pre-orders at GameStop – you’ll receive a redemption code printed on your receipt when you pick up the game to download a digital copy of the Resident Evil: Retribution movie. PlayStation 4 pre-orders will receive a code to download the movie on VUDU, redeemable through the VUDU app on PS4, and Xbox One pre-orders will receive a code for the movie redeemable through the Xbox Store. This offer is available for both pre-orders and purchases of Resident Evil 7 biohazard in the United States through February 6th, 2017.

For PlayStation Network digital pre-orders – you’ll receive a code via PSN system message for 40% off the HD movie bundle Resident Evil Collection on the PlayStation Store. The collection includes Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and Resident Evil: Retribution. This offer is available for pre-orders of Resident Evil 7 biohazard in the United States through January 23rd, 2017.
GameStop-exclusive Collector's Edition

If you're wanting to go all-in for RE7, GameStop has an exclusive Collector's Edition. It's priced at $179.99 and includes the following:

-Resident Evil 7 biohazard Base Game
-Mansion Music Box (8” Tall) that plays a sample of Aunt Rhody with accompanying LED effects.
-Dummy Finger 4G USB Drive
-Exclusive Metal Case
-VHS Tape Box
-Exclusive Lithograph
-Creepy Note
-Premium Packaging
Hands-On (Head-On?) Impressions of RE7 in VR

Our own Paulmichael Contreras was on hand at E3 2016 to test out the VR build of Resident Evil 7. Spoilers: he was overly impressed.

"I can safely say that the slice of Resident Evil 7 that I played will make believers from many a skeptic of virtual reality. Something about a game that reacts to your every head movement makes the world more believable, and coupled with a decent pair of headphones, you’ll be whisked away to whatever world is being presented to you. For those who still feel virtual reality is a gimmick, Resident Evil 7 does not require it, and it appears the game can still stand on its own and bring in scares without the headset."
Our Review

And our final verdict? Chandler Wood will be handling the official PSLS review of Resident Evil 7. According to Capcom, the embargo is set to lift on January 23, right before launch day, so keep those peepers peeled.