The Resident Evil series is once again about to make a splash in the gaming world, with the ninth game in the series, Requiem, coming out on February 27, 2026. But it’s not the only new game in the series coming out soon. In July, Joycity and Aniplex announced that they are making a mobile title, called Resident Evil Survival Unit, which brings real-time strategy to the franchise. As of this month, the game has already had 1 million pre-registrations from fans.
But what is Resident Evil Survival Unit, and what place does it have in a franchise that has traditionally been for survival-horror action? GamesBeat spoke with producer Shinji Hashimoto about the game’s design, and also his own experiences with developing the new game.
To answer the first question, Survival Unit takes place in the series’ original setting of Raccoon City. As a foil to Requiem — which takes place in the city years after its destruction — Survival Unit is set in the midst of the T-Virus zombie outbreak. According to the game’s site, it takes place in an alternate timeline, allowing various canon characters to appear in the game’s survival outpost, where the unnamed main character protects and leads the other survivors.
Speaking with GamesBeat, Hashimoto said the point of Survival Unit is to be a game for both fans of the series and casual players: “The core idea of this project is to provide an experience that combines elements of ‘survival’ and ‘pandemic horror’ in a new form as a strategy game. For fans of the series, I hope they can enjoy familiar characters and the world from a fresh perspective, while for new players, I aim to create an entry point into the captivating universe of the Resident Evil series, even for those who may not be skilled in action games… We aim to develop this project as a new work that holds value while cherishing the essence of the Resident Evil series. Our team is united in our efforts to meet your expectations.”
Creating a strategic survival horror experience
Hashimoto formerly worked at Square Enix as a producer, working on the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series. He left the other company in 2022, then joined Sony Music Entertainment as a senior advisor. “When I retired from my previous job at Square Enix, I took the opportunity to visit and say goodbye to everyone at the company, during which I also met with CAPCOM. During our conversation, they mentioned, ‘It would be a shame for you to retire now.’ While it is important to support the younger generation, I was given the chance to take on more specific projects.”
As he told GamesBeat, the concept behind Survival Unit grew out of conversations with both series creator Capcom and Aniplex. “When I expressed my desire to propose a new genre to CAPCOM, they kindly agreed to listen to my ideas, and I presented the concept: ‘How about this project?’ Actually, there was a time when I was quite into City Ville. I wanted to enjoy the experience of growing a city from a bird’s-eye view. However, I found that just having simulation elements would eventually lead to boredom. To keep the experience engaging, I considered incorporating battle elements, aiming to create a fusion of city-building and combat.”
Survival Unit is intended to be a faithful recreation of the series’ setting and vibe, with a fresh infusion of new creature design from artist Yoshitaka Amano. Hashimoto added the game will bring in familiar characters to bolster the team of survivors. “In terms of gameplay, players will primarily engage in exploration, development, and strategy building from a mansion that serves as their ‘base.’ Tactical play will require assembling teams that make the most of each character’s unique skills. Additionally, the single-player mode will offer puzzle-solving and combat that pay homage to the original’s direction, with various gimmicks and items sprinkled throughout to elicit reactions from fans of the original series.”
Resident Evil Survival Unit is slated for release in late 2025.