Following the release of the new Resident Evil film directed by Zach Cregger, more people have started playing the series' games.
According to exclusive data from GamesIndustry, between August 30 and September 20, the total daily active users for five major titles in the series rose from 500,000 to 750,000, a 50% increase; retail sales also jumped from 34,000 copies per day to nearly 80,000, more than doubling. Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 7, and the latest Resident Evil 9 all received increased attention.
However, industry analysts caution against focusing solely on the growth during this period. Representatives from Sensor Tower and Ampere Analysis pointed out that when compared to the series' annual sales figures, the increase from new sales amounts to only single-digit percentage growth, which is not particularly high. They believe that the greater value of the synergy between the film and the game lies in the long-term boost to the visibility of Resident Evil. The movie keeps global audiences engaged with the series; in their view, this helps Capcom secure higher pre-order numbers for future games and achieve commercial success.
Resident Evil 2 performed the best during the weekend of the film's release. Newzoo attributes this to two reasons.
First, Capcom offered a timely discount on the game, dropping the price to $7.99, making it the most affordable entry point for trying out the series. Second, the film's story takes place during the same period as the Raccoon City outbreak, so viewers might feel inclined to return to the familiar settings in the games after watching the movie.
The timing of the discount also played a role. Capcom launched its promotion 8 to 10 days before the film's release, aligning the peak purchasing period with the movie's premiere, attracting both new players and returning fans.
In the author's view, this mutual boost between the film and the game once again demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach; other major franchises have previously employed similar strategies with success.