This is definitely an issue that Sony must pay more attention to, especially with Microsoft all but rubbing it in their faces. But, as of the moment, most gamers aren’t too worried. This is mostly because the games that’ll be gone forever were never really considered “best sellers”. Or, at least, that’s what most think. However, you’d be surprised to find out that the effect of the PlayStation Store shut down extends to a video game franchise as big as Resident Evil.
Which Resident Evil Games Are Affected?
The Resident Evil franchise is considered the pioneer of the survival horror genre. The series effectively gave birth to the entire thing when the first game came out back in 1996. But while Capcom has made sure to update some of the older titles of the franchise, not all players can access every Resident Evil game on a modern console. Here are all the Resident Evil games that are available only as a digital purchase on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and/or PlayStation Vita.
Resident Evil Director’s Cut
Resident Evil Director’s cut was Capcom’s way of making it up to their growing audience after they delayed the release of Resident Evil 2. In addition to including the base game, the Director’s Cut made a number of changes. This includes adding an “Arranged Mode” that switched item placements to challenge gamers who’d already memorized where things were. It also included a self-explanatory “Beginner Mode”. In total, two Director’s Cut versions were released. The other had support for the analog controls and vibration functionality of the then-newly-released DualShock controller.
Resident Evil 2
After 2 years, Capcom finally released the sequel to Resident Evil in 1998. The story revolved around the now-familiar tale of rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield’s younger sister, Claire Redfield. It was set in Raccoon City with the majority of the game taking place inside of the Raccoon Police Department. Since then, Capcom has remade the 1998 classic title and many believe that the remake is a superior version. However, it’s still a shame that a piece of gaming history will no longer be available for digital purchase.
Resident Evil 3
Resident Evil 3 came out just a year after Resident Evil 2. It brought back one of the first game’s protagonists, Jill Valentine. However, this time around, she won’t be trying to get into the Spencer Mansion or anywhere else. Instead, she’ll have to make it out of Raccoon City alive as she’s hunted down by arguably the franchise’s most iconic villain, the Nemesis-T Type tyrant. Similar to Resident Evil 2, Capcom also released a re-imagined version of Resident Evil 3. However, unlike the Resident Evil 2 Remake, the modern version of Jill’s tale was not as well-received.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City was released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as a spin-off title. It offered an alternative scenario to the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. Although critically panned, Capcom deemed the game a commercial success after it sold more than 3.2 million units.
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
The Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection is a compilation of the two rail shooting Resident Evil video games, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. Both games were originally released for the Nintendo Wii. The games essentially serve as a retelling of all the events that occurred in every Resident Evil release prior.
Are All Of These Resident Evil Games Gone Forever?
Not necessarily. You can still buy physical copies of the said games and get to keep them forever. However, getting your hands on them can get difficult. This is especially true now that owners know that the value of the titles are only going to go up once Sony decides to shut the doors down on the PlayStation Store for their older consoles for good. If it’s any consolation, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, as well as Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, are all still available via PS Now. As for the other Resident Evil games, our best advice is to get your hands on them before the PlayStation Store is closed. As we’ve previously covered, the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable will be open until July 2, 2021. The PlayStation Vita Store closure will follow suit on August 27. Sony has promised that you’ll be able to redownload any games that you’ve added to your library even after the PlayStation Store has shutdown. Just make sure that you purchase the games before the said dates. On that note, we also recommend taking a look at the other PlayStation 3 titles that we believe are worth purchasing and playing before the shutdown.
