Recently, former Capcom executive Miguel Corti reflected on the development process of Resident Evil 7, noting that the game's early concepts underwent several adjustments. The success of The Last of Us allowed the team to see the potential of narrative-driven single-player games anew, indirectly driving the project to strengthen its story and horror experience.
Corti stated that the team was no longer looking to Call of Duty for direction as they had before, instead shifting their focus to The Last of Us. The developers aimed to achieve the high acclaim garnered by other titles, many of which were clearly influenced by Resident Evil.
According to Corti's recollections, the envisioned Resident Evil 7 at the time would not only emphasize narrative but also planned to strengthen ties with the series' lore and existing settings. Management was very satisfied with the market performance of Resident Evil 6, and a key reason for the project's change in direction was the development team's desire to achieve a breakthrough in critical reception, rather than simply negating the previous game's achievements.
The Zombies mode in Call of Duty had already formed a substantial community by the early 2010s, becoming an important reference point for undead-themed experiences, but The Last of Us attracted significant attention upon its release. The final version of Resident Evil 7 adopted a more focused, restrained approach with a heavier emphasis on horror.