Capcom's Remake Dilemma: Resident Evil and Devil May Cry's Rocky Path Ahead

The year is 2026, and Capcom's remake machine is still humming. A seasoned gamer—let's call him Alex—scrolls through endless forum threads on his tablet, each one buzzing with the same question: what will the studio resurrect next? The Resident Evil reimaginings have become a modern gold standard, proving that old horrors can learn new tricks. Ever since the mansion doors creaked open again with Resident Evil 2, fans have devoured each entry with an appetite that only grows hungrier. The Resident Evil 4 remake, a triumph that even managed to respect the original while polishing its action set pieces, left Alex in awe. Its VR mode finally landed earlier this year, and just a few weeks ago, Capcom dropped a surprise launch trailer for Resident Evil 5 Remake. But not everyone is ready to celebrate.

You see, Alex isn't just a Resident Evil diehard; he's also a long-time Devil May Cry follower. The stylish action series that was born from a failed Resident Evil 4 prototype back in the early 2000s holds a special place in his heart. He remembers the visceral thrill of Dante's first adventure, the sheer perfection of Devil May Cry 3, and the reinvention that was DMC5 in 2019. Now, as Resident Evil reshapes its legacy one numbered entry at a time, Alex can't help but wonder: if the survival horror franchise can pull off such a stunning glow-up, could its rebellious cousin get the same treatment? And more importantly—should it?

The problem isn't the starting point. Devil May Cry 1, released in 2001, still stands as a gothic masterpiece. The creaking corridors of Mallet Island, the haunting ambience that gave way to bombastic sword-and-gun combat—a modern remake would practically design itself. Higher fidelity graphics, a fluid style-switching system borrowed from later sequels, maybe even fully reimagined Nightmare battles. Capcom could weave in narrative threads from the broader DMC mythos without breaking a sweat. Yet Alex knows that's not the scary part. The real hurdle lurks further down the line, a shadow that even the mighty Resident Evil franchise is just now beginning to face.

Case in point: Resident Evil 5. When Capcom teased the remake, Alex felt a knot twist in his stomach. The original 2009 game was a blockbuster, but it also made a decision that still divides fans—a permanent co-op partner, Sheva Alomar, controlled by an AI that often felt more like a hindrance than a help. Sure, the Resident Evil 4 remake tested improved partner AI with Luis Serra's brief sections, and that experiment hints at a smarter, more responsive Sheva. But a modern retelling needs to do far more than fix companion scripts. The 2009 version's depiction of Africa, its tribal-infected enemies, and certain character beats would feel tone-deaf under 2026's spotlight. Capcom must perform a balancing act—honoring the source material while surgically removing what hasn't aged well. The internet is already ablaze with debates. Can a Resident Evil 5 remake truly succeed without a ground-up rework? Will it be a faithful remix like RE2, or a bold re-imagining like Final Fantasy VII Remake? Alex leans toward the latter, and the mere thought exhausts him.

Now, transpose that dread onto Devil May Cry 2. Alex stifles a laugh, but it's a nervous one. Among the many black sheep of gaming history, DMC2 wears the crown with a tarnished grin. Released in 2003, it stripped away almost everything that made the first game magical. Dante was stoic to the point of parody, the combat systems were shallow and repetitive, and the infamous Infested Chopper boss fight still haunts message boards. Even Capcom seems embarrassed: DMC5's own history recap skimmed over the second entry with a whisper. A direct remake of DMC1 would be a love letter. A remake of DMC2? That would be a full-blown intervention.

What would a modern Devil May Cry 2 even look like? The very thought forces Alex to ask his own question: does anyone really want a beat-for-beat recreation of shooting down helicopters with dual pistols while standing on a moving truck? Probably not. The few salvageable concepts—enhanced mobility, two playable characters (though Lucia's campaign would need to be entirely rewritten), and the rare moments of truly stylish action—would serve only as a foundation. Everything else, from the combat engine to the soundtrack, would demand a total overhaul. Compared to that, remaking Resident Evil 5 feels like a mild remaster. Capcom would essentially have to pull a Final Fantasy VII Remake stunt, rebuilding the game from scratch and presenting it as a completely new experience. That takes years, resources, and a passionate team that—let's be honest—is likely busy with the next Resident Evil or a completely fresh project.

So here Alex sits, in 2026, staring at his screen. Capcom has earned his trust, that's for sure. The Resident Evil remakes have proven that the company can treat its classics with respect while injecting new life into them. But as the series inches closer to its own problematic chapters, the path forward gets messier. And if the Devil May Cry series ever gets the remake treatment, it will run headfirst into that same wall—only sooner, and at a dead sprint. The real question isn't whether Capcom can do it. It's whether they should pick up that sword at all, or let some demons sleep peacefully in the past.