Resident Evil 5 has lost its place atop the franchise sales chart after dominating for more than a decade and a half. Capcom's latest figures confirm that the Resident Evil 2 remake has surpassed the original's record, shipping 19.75 million copies compared to Resident Evil 5's 19.01 million.
The shift marks a notable milestone for the survival horror series. Resident Evil 5 rode enormous momentum when it launched, benefiting from the cultural phenomenon that was its predecessor, Resident Evil 4. Yet critics have long held that while 5 sold in staggering volumes, it never matched 4's quality or innovation.
The Resident Evil 2 remake achieved its throne status four years after launching in 2019, a testament to sustained consumer appetite for the franchise. The game has continued moving copies steadily, likely bolstered by the overlapping releases of the Resident Evil 4 remake and Resident Evil Requiem, which both feature Leon S. Kennedy.
Those newer titles show no signs of slowing. The Resident Evil 4 remake has reached 16 million units sold, while Resident Evil Requiem sits at 8 million. Given typical pricing strategies and upcoming post-launch content, both games could plausibly overtake the Resident Evil 2 remake within coming years.
The cumulative strength across the series is staggering. The Resident Evil franchise has now shipped 213 million copies total across all releases, edging past Square Enix's Final Fantasy series at 212 million. That comparison reflects the franchise's renaissance under Capcom's recent creative direction, particularly the successful remake strategy.
Beyond horror, Capcom's portfolio continues expanding. Monster Hunter: World has become a cultural juggernaut with 30.45 million copies sold, while the new franchise Pragmata has already reached 2.51 million units. Resident Evil itself will see theatrical competition when director Zach Cregger's film arrives on September 16, with Resident Evil Veronica arriving in 2027 as the franchise's next major game release.
Author Emily Chen: "The Resident Evil 2 remake proved that thoughtful reimagining can work where sequels stumble, and Capcom's willingness to mine its back catalog while pushing new titles shows a franchise that's finally found its footing."
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