Resident Evil 5 Remake Hinted by ESRB Rating
▼ Summary
– An ESRB listing for an Xbox Series version of Resident Evil 5 appeared, initially sparking speculation about a potential remake.
– The listing included an “In-Game Purchases” tag, which is a modern Capcom practice not present in the original ports, further suggesting a remake.
– The timing coincided with a planned Sony State of Play event, a platform Capcom has used for past remake reveals.
– Supporting social media activity from a voice actor for the game also fueled the initial remake speculation.
– However, the listing was later found to be from early 2025, and similar pages exist for other Resident Evil games, indicating it was likely for a potential physical re-release bundle, not a new remake.
A recent listing on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board website has sparked widespread speculation about a potential Resident Evil 5 remake. The appearance of a page for an Xbox Series version of the classic game, complete with an “In-Game Purchases” descriptor, suggests this could be more than a simple re-release. This discovery is particularly intriguing given the timing, as it coincides with an upcoming PlayStation State of Play broadcast, a platform Capcom has previously used for major franchise announcements.
The ESRB listing itself provides few concrete details, but the inclusion of the in-game purchases tag is a notable clue. Earlier ports of Resident Evil 5 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One bundled all previously released downloadable content, launching before Capcom adopted its current model of offering optional microtransaction-style DLC at a game’s release. The presence of this tag strongly implies a new, modernized version of the game is being prepared, aligning with the company’s recent practices for titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake.
Further fueling the rumor mill is a social media post from Eva La Dare, the actor who portrayed Sheva Alomar in the original game. Last month, she hinted at “fun things lined up for March,” using hashtags including #residentevil5 and #shevaalomar. While this could point to anniversary-related content, the combination with the ESRB listing has led many fans to believe a larger project is imminent.
However, this potential revelation faces conflicting reports from within the gaming community. Several prominent leakers maintain that the next project following the recently announced Resident Evil Requiem will be a remake of Resident Evil – Code: Veronica, not a revisit of the fifth mainline entry. This contradiction leaves the actual status of a Resident Evil 5 remake uncertain.
The situation grew more complex when it was discovered the ESRB page dates back to early 2025, alongside similar listings for Xbox Series versions of Resident Evil 6 and the Revelations titles. Since these games are already backward compatible on newer consoles, the need for separate ratings is unusual. The ESRB’s own guidelines state that digital games rated through the IARC process do not receive full rating summaries, yet these pages do, indicating a publisher submission.
This suggests Capcom specifically requested ratings for physical Xbox Series editions of these older games. The existence of these pages could stem from an administrative error or plans for a new physical bundle, rather than signaling imminent remakes. Consequently, the evidence for a Resident Evil 5 remake is now considered far less definitive, with the ESRB listings potentially relating to a different type of re-release altogether. The upcoming State of Play may provide clearer answers, but for now, the prospect of a remake remains speculative.
(Source: Kotaku)
