New details emerge on Resident Evil: Survival Unit’s gameplay, world, and Yoshitaka Amano’s mysterious new creature design.

A new chapter in the Resident Evil franchise is on the horizon: one that trades action-packed fights for tactical thinking and survival strategy. 

Resident Evil Survival Unit is a mobile strategy game set to launch by the end of 2025, developed by JOYCITY in collaboration with Capcom and produced by Shinji Hashimoto. The game was first revealed last week, but today’s full livestream presentation (11 July) offered a deeper look at how the game works.

 Fans were treated to new gameplay footage, character reveals, familiar locations, and the introduction of a terrifying creature designed by legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano. Built from the ground up for mobile, Survival Unit aims to bring a fresh but faithful spin to the iconic horror series.

Full reveal highlights new direction for Resident Evil on mobile

Executive Producer Shinji Hashimoto, formerly of Square Enix, opened the reveal by introducing Resident Evil Survival Unit as the first major title he's produced since joining Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Hashimoto explained that the project had been in development for some time and was built specifically for mobile, combining the strategic nature of limited survival with multiplayer elements.

“I like this so-called pandemic horror,” he said, “and have long since admired the world of Resident Evil.”

Capcom’s Masachika Kawata, who has worked on the series since its early days, also appeared to discuss Capcom's involvement in supervising the worldbuilding, characters, and design. “This marks the first time a Resident Evil entry will be a full-fledged strategy game,” he stated. Kawata added that the game will appeal not only to long-time fans, but also to those less interested in action-focused gameplay.

Resident Evil Survival Unit gameplay will feature tactical combat and base management

JOYCITY producer Kye Dongkyun introduced the gameplay, highlighting Survival Unit’s focus on strategy, base-building, and tactical combat. 

Iconic locations like the Raccoon Police Department return, reimagined to support the game’s strategic approach while preserving the atmosphere of classic Resident Evil.

Players begin as an Umbrella test subject, escaping a mysterious hospital and piecing together the truth behind their capture. Gameplay revolves around real-time strategy, with each character offering unique skills suited to different threats. Exploration, puzzles, and item collection remain core elements.

The Mansion acts as your main base, where you can interact with characters, visit the Weapons Merchant, and prepare squads with upgrade paths and synergy in mind.

“The strategy genre is one of JOYCITY’s core strengths,” Dongkyun said. “We’ve worked to create a Resident Evil experience that feels authentic, but also fresh and distinct on mobile.”

Returning Resident Evil characters 

The game will be bringing back familiar faces from across the series, with some of whom finally get a bigger spotlight.

Leon leads the charge with top-tier abilities, while Claire shows up in a pinch to lend a hand. Jill delivers her trademark firepower, Carlos brings steady support, and Marvin steps into a more central role this time around.

Each character comes with their own strengths and skills, letting you build squads that suit your strategy. Interactions and dialogue add more personality, giving players a chance to connect with the cast in new ways.

Legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano designs new creature for Survival Unit

Legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, known internationally for his work on Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D, lends his signature style to Resident Evil Survival Unit with the creation of a brand-new creature called Mortem.

Amano described the project as a rare challenge, aiming to evoke fear through the unknown. “I wanted to create a sense of unease…a shadow-like presence that hints at what the creature really is, without fully revealing it,” he said.

Survival Unit is a parallel storyline unfolding alongside Resident Evil 2 and 3 timeline

Resident Evil Survival Unit unfolds alongside the events of Resident Evil 2 and 3, but tells a parallel story with its own original lead and narrative path. Set in a familiar world but viewed through a different lens, the game retains some character traits, relationships, and lore to offer something new “without losing what defines the series.”

“Even though it’s set in a parallel world, the core elements of the original series have been faithfully carried over,” said Dongkyun.

Pre-registration already open ahead of 2025 release

Resident Evil Survival Unit is scheduled to go live by the end of 2025, with pre-registration already open via the official website. Players can also follow the game's official social media accounts for further updates, trailers, and development insights.