Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil 2 remake has surpassed Resident Evil 5 to become the best-selling entry in the franchise, highlighting the ongoing strength of the series' back catalogue and shifting sales landscape
Capcom has officially reported that Resident Evil 2 remake has now outsold Resident Evil 5, ending a 15-year run for the previous sales leader in the franchise. The updated figures, released as part of Capcom's latest financial disclosures, show Resident Evil 2 remake reaching 19.75 million units sold, narrowly overtaking Resident Evil 5's 19.01 million. This shift marks a significant moment for the Resident Evil series, reflecting both the enduring appeal of its remakes and the continued commercial relevance of its older entries.
Sales Figures and Franchise Context
The Resident Evil 2 remake, which launched in 2019, has steadily accumulated sales across multiple platforms, benefitting from ongoing digital promotions and renewed interest following the release of other Leon S. Kennedy-led titles. Resident Evil 5, released in 2009, had long held the top spot, a position secured during a period of heightened anticipation after the critical success of Resident Evil 4. The fact that it has taken over a decade for another entry to surpass it underlines the scale of Resident Evil 5's initial impact, even as critical opinion has often placed it below its predecessor.
Capcom's latest data also highlights the strong performance of other recent releases. Resident Evil 4's remake has now sold 16 million copies, while Resident Evil Requiem stands at 8 million units. The publisher notes that these figures are likely to rise further as post-launch expansions and discounts are introduced. In total, the Resident Evil franchise has now sold 213 million copies worldwide, a figure that edges it ahead of Square Enix's Final Fantasy series, though the latter's numbers have not yet been updated for the current quarter.
Ongoing Sales Momentum
The continued sales of Resident Evil's back catalogue demonstrate the franchise's ability to attract new players and retain long-term interest. The Resident Evil 2 remake's performance is particularly notable given its release seven years ago, with sales momentum sustained by cross-promotion and the broader trend of high-quality remakes. Capcom's approach to revitalising classic entries has proven commercially effective, with each new release often boosting interest in earlier titles.
Other Capcom properties have also shown strong results. Monster Hunter: World has reached 30.45 million units sold, and the new IP Pragmata has achieved 2.51 million sales. These numbers reinforce Capcom's position as one of the industry's most consistent publishers in terms of catalogue performance and ongoing player engagement.
What's Next for Resident Evil
The Resident Evil franchise is set to expand further, with a new film directed by Zach Cregger scheduled for release on 16 September. Looking ahead, Resident Evil Veronica is planned for 2027, continuing Capcom's strategy of revisiting and reimagining key entries from the series' history. The publisher's ongoing investment in both remakes and new content suggests that the sales landscape could shift again as future titles are released and promoted.
For those interested in how major franchises manage cross-media expansion and maintain momentum, the recent coverage of Marvel's Wolverine's crossover and story reveals at San Diego Comic-Con offers a useful comparison. Details on that can be found in our article on Marvel's Wolverine's latest showcase, which explores similar strategies in franchise management and audience engagement.
When discussing sales figures in gaming, it's important to distinguish between units sold to consumers and units shipped to retailers, as well as to clarify the difference between total sales and concurrent player counts. Sales data is typically reported by publishers based on internal tracking and platform-holder disclosures, but can lag behind real-time player activity. Understanding these distinctions helps provide a clearer picture of a game's commercial performance and its place within a franchise's broader history.
