Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi has officially confirmed that the development team cut an entire chapter from the game, mirroring the “phantom chapter” phenomenon previously seen in Resident Evil 7.
The “Phantom Chapter” History
In a recent interview with Denfaminico Gamer, Nakanishi reflected on the evolution of the series’ development process. He recalled the infamous “phantom Chapter 2” of Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, which was originally intended to bridge the gap between the guest house and the main house. Following this revelation, Nakanishi disclosed that Resident Evil Requiem underwent a similar transformation, with an entire chapter being scrapped before the final release.
The Reality of Game Development
Nakanishi shed light on the intense decision-making process that defines the series’ production. “As we lock down the structure of the game, we go through a pretty intense process of deciding things like, ‘Let’s push this scene further back,’ ‘Let’s just cut this entirely,’ or ‘Let’s add something different here,'” he explained. He emphasized that these removals are not last-minute emergencies, but rather the result of a continuous cycle of building rough versions and refining them through iterative revisions. According to Nakanishi, cutting full chapters is a standard practice during the lifecycle of these horror titles.
A Pattern of Scrapped Content
The history of the franchise is no stranger to significant omissions. The Resident Evil 4 remake, for instance, famously cut an introductory sequence where players would have controlled Ashley Graham. This segment was developed far enough to be featured in promotional trailers before ultimately being removed. Given the often-tedious nature of escort or secondary character segments—much like the orphanage sequences found in Resident Evil 2 and Requiem—many fans argue that these cuts often serve the game’s overall pacing and replayability.
If you are looking to dive into the horror yourself, you can check out our comprehensive Resident Evil Requiem review, or utilize our Resident Evil Requiem safe codes guide to navigate the game’s more challenging puzzles.
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