New Resident Evil game announced, returns to Raccoon City

Capcom has officially announced Resident Evil: Raccoon City, a brand new Resi game coming to PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 this winter.

Though I say ‘brand new’, Resident Evil: Raccoon City actually returns to the unluckiest city in videogames to retell events that took place in Resident Evil 2 and 3. It’s not the same survival horror fare that appeared in those games, however.

Instead, Raccoon City is a team-based shooter with a bunch of competitive online multiplayer modes. It’s a shame we’re not getting a true horror game in the grand Resi tradition – this sounds more ‘survival action’ than ‘survival horror’ – but I guess the series won’t be returning to its roots anytime soon. Capcom seems determined to mimic the success of Dead Space and its ilk.

There’ll be zombies, but also enemy squads to take care of, and that’s all we really know for now; Capcom has yet to release screens or footage. Here’s the only informative snippet from the press release:

It is September 1998 and the action centres once more on the ill-fated Raccoon City and the horrific consequences of the deadly T-virus outbreak from the Umbrella facility. With a cover up required, Umbrella orders an elite team into Raccoon City to destroy all evidence of the outbreak and eliminate any survivors. Hearing of this plan, the US Government dispatches its own special forces to uncover any evidence that exposes the cause of the viral infection and Umbrella’s actions. Players take on the role of an Umbrella Security Services soldier (U.S.S.), competing alone or in four player co-op in a battle against all the competing forces at play in Raccoon City.

Expect the return of original Resident Evil enemies, iconic landmarks such as the Raccoon City Police Department and fan favorite characters, including Leon S. Kennedy, who as a rookie police officer in Raccoon City is on your hit list to eliminate. Players will experience a retelling of classic moments from past titles Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 and watch the events unfolding from the menacing perspective of the Umbrella Security Service, giving fans the chance to rewrite the history of the Raccoon City outbreak.

[Via Capcom]