Resident Evil 5 is no longer the best-selling game in Capcom’s long-running survival horror series. New sales figures released by the publisher show that the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake has overtaken it, reaching 19.75 million copies sold compared to Resident Evil 5’s final total of 19.01 million.
The shift ends a 15-year reign for the 2009 co-op focused entry. Resident Evil 5 launched with enormous momentum following the critical and commercial success of the original Resident Evil 4. Even though many players and critics later ranked it lower than its predecessor, the game’s strong marketing, multiplayer appeal, and broad platform availability helped it maintain the sales lead for a decade and a half.
The Resident Evil 2 remake’s climb is huge for several reasons. The game launched in January 2019 and has continued selling at a steady pace years later. Capcom’s figures suggest the title has benefited from renewed interest generated by later Leon S. Kennedy-centered releases, including the Resident Evil 4 remake and Resident Evil Requiem. Catalog sales of this scale are uncommon in the industry and point to the lasting strength of the series’ modern remake strategy.
Resident Evil 4’s 2023 remake currently sits at 16 million copies. Resident Evil Requiem, the newest mainline entry, has reached 8 million. Both numbers are still climbing. Requiem in particular is expected to see further growth once price reductions begin and its planned post-launch expansion arrives. Given enough time, either title could eventually challenge or surpass the Resident Evil 2 remake for the top spot.
Taken together, the entire Resident Evil franchise has now sold 213 million copies across all of its games. That total edges past Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series, which stands at 212 million according to the most recent available figures. The comparison is imperfect because Final Fantasy’s numbers have not yet been updated for the current financial quarter, but it still marks a symbolic milestone for Capcom’s horror series.
Other Capcom titles continue to perform well in the background. Pragmata, the publisher’s new science-fiction action game, has sold 2.51 million copies. Monster Hunter: World remains a massive outlier with 30.45 million units moved, underscoring Capcom’s ability to sustain long-term sales across different genres.
The Resident Evil 2 remake’s success fits a broader pattern. Capcom’s decision to rebuild classic entries with modern production values and tighter gameplay has paid off repeatedly. The 2019 remake restored the tense, resource-scarce atmosphere of the 1998 original while updating controls, visuals, and storytelling for contemporary audiences. Its strong reception helped justify subsequent remakes and kept older entries relevant in an industry that often moves on quickly from past releases.
Resident Evil 5’s long hold on the sales crown reflected a different era. Released at a time when Capcom was pushing the series toward more action-oriented design and online co-op, the game arrived with significant marketing support and the lingering goodwill from Resident Evil 4. Its sales numbers held firm even as critical consensus settled on a more mixed view of the experience. That the remake of a much older game eventually overtook it speaks to how thoroughly Capcom has refreshed the brand’s appeal over the past several years.
The ongoing performance of the back catalog also highlights the value of consistent quality and smart sequencing. Each successful remake and new release appears to lift interest in related titles. Players who finish the Resident Evil 4 remake or Requiem often circle back to earlier entries, extending the commercial life of games that might otherwise have slowed. The Resident Evil 2 remake has been one of the clearest beneficiaries of that cycle.
Looking ahead, Capcom has two high-profile Resident Evil projects on the horizon. Zach Cregger’s live-action Resident Evil film is scheduled for September 16. The next numbered game, Resident Evil Veronica, is currently targeted for 2027. Both will arrive with the series sitting at a commercial high point, buoyed by strong recent sales and a catalog that continues to generate revenue years after launch.
For now, the Resident Evil 2 remake sits alone at the top with 19.75 million copies. Resident Evil 5 follows closely behind at 19.01 million. The Resident Evil 4 remake and Requiem trail but remain in striking distance depending on future sales momentum. The broader franchise total of 213 million copies places Resident Evil among the best-selling series in gaming history.
Capcom’s latest numbers confirm what the remake strategy has been building toward for years. Classic games rebuilt with care continue to find large audiences, newer entries perform strongly out of the gate, and the combined catalog keeps generating sales long after the initial marketing campaigns end. After 15 years, the sales crown has finally changed hands. The Resident Evil 2 remake is the new leader, and the series as a whole has never looked more commercially secure.