Yasuhiro Anpo, the director behind the acclaimed remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4, shed light on the decision-making process that led to the revival of the 1998 classic. Anpo disclosed that the project was spurred by the palpable enthusiasm from fans eager to see the game restored to its former glory. He recounted the moment of realization, stating, "We realized: people really want this to happen." This sentiment was echoed by producer Hirabayashi, who decisively responded, "Alright, we'll do it."

Initially, the team at Capcom considered tackling Resident Evil 4 first. However, after thorough discussions, they recognized the iconic status of RE4, which was still widely regarded as nearly flawless. The risk of altering such a beloved game was too high. Consequently, the focus shifted to the earlier Resident Evil 2, which was in dire need of modernization. To ensure they met fan expectations, the developers also delved into fan projects for insights into what the community desired.

Despite Capcom's internal deliberations, the decision to remake these classic titles was met with mixed reactions from the fanbase. Some expressed skepticism, particularly about the necessity of remaking Resident Evil 4, which they believed did not require the same level of updating as its predecessors. While Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, both released in the 1990s on the original PlayStation, suffered from outdated features like fixed camera angles and cumbersome controls, Resident Evil 4, released in 2005, had already revolutionized the survival horror genre.

Despite these concerns, the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 managed to capture the essence of their originals while significantly enhancing gameplay and narrative elements. The commercial success and overwhelmingly positive critical feedback validated Capcom's approach, demonstrating that even a game considered nearly untouchable could be successfully reimagined with reverence for its source material and a fresh creative perspective.