Resident Evil 2 Takes the Crown as Top-Selling Japanese Game Series, Ousts Final Fantasy

In a thrilling twist in the gaming world, Resident Evil 2 has officially become the best-selling game in the legendary Resident Evil series, leaving Final Fantasy in the dust. According to Capcom’s latest earnings report, the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 has sold an impressive 1.42 million copies since the last update, boosting its total sales to an eye-popping 19.75 million copies.

For a while, Resident Evil 5 held the top spot, but it has now been dethroned. When we look back, Resident Evil 5, which includes its various versions across platforms like Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, and even the Switch, had managed to sell around 19.01 million copies. But with the rise of Resident Evil 2, the tides have turned!

However, the competition is heating up. The Resident Evil 4 remake isn’t far behind, racking up 16.04 million sales despite being released later. In just the past three months, it sold a whopping 2.43 million copies, which is over a million more than what Resident Evil 2 sold during the same period. Not to be outdone, Resident Evil Requiem is also making waves, adding another 1.14 million copies to its tally recently.

Overall, Capcom revealed that the entire Resident Evil franchise has sold an astounding 213 million copies since it launched 30 years ago, surpassing Final Fantasy, which was reported to have sold 212 million. This achievement makes Resident Evil the ninth best-selling game franchise of all time and the top-selling Japanese game series not associated with Nintendo. Considering the monumental success of franchises like Mario and Pokémon, Resident Evil’s current position is impressive, yet it still has a way to go.

In a humorous twist, a joke pitch from the director of Resident Evil 2 imagines a cozy life simulation game featuring a retired Leon Kennedy enjoying fishing, baking, and hosting barbecues with friends. Now, wouldn’t that be a fun game to play?