The Resident Evil series, known for its varied global settings, may soon add Japan to its list of locations. Producer Masato Kumazawa revealed in a recent interview that the development team has considered setting a future mainline Resident Evil game in Japan, a first for the franchise established since its debut in the late 1990s [1, 2].
Until now, Resident Evil games have never taken place in Japan. The series has primarily been set in places such as Raccoon City in the United States, rural Spain, Eastern Europe, and West Africa [1, 2]. Despite the franchise’s Japanese origins, previous games have focused on Western and international locations.
The timeline of the Resident Evil story adjusts flexibly according to narrative and character needs. This was demonstrated in Resident Evil Requiem, which featured scenes set eight years before the main story, as well as even earlier periods, providing background context for characters and events [1].
One notable character, Leon Kennedy, who leads Resident Evil Requiem’s story, is now depicted as being in his early 50s, showing the series’ willingness to evolve its characters over time [1].
Fans have noted the potential for a Japan-set game to avoid common horror tropes such as typical village settings, hoping for fresh interpretations of horror within a Japanese context [2]. While Resident Evil has featured a Japanese main character, Takeru Tominaga, it was only in a spin-off manga released exclusively in Japan, not within the mainline video games [2].
Masato Kumazawa’s interview was conducted in August 2026, marking the first official public discussion about this possibility [1, 2]. The development team’s consideration signals that the next steps in the Resident Evil franchise could explore new cultural and geographic territory, expanding the iconic horror series’ scope.
No official announcement or release date has been given yet for a Japan-based Resident Evil game.
