How Did Biohazard Become Resident Evil?

The “Resident Evil” franchise is one of the most well-known and successful names in horror in the video game industry. The series has stood the test of time and transformed into a multimedia franchise consisting of both live-action and animated films, television shows, comics, novels and, of course, its many, many games. Over the decades, ever since its first installment in 1996, “Resident Evil” has become one of the most recognizable horror video game franchises in the United States and is one of the defining games in its genre, still going strong to this day. While in the process of bringing the game overseas from Japan, Capcom ran into several issues in regards to the game’s original title: “Biohazard.” In the process of localizing that very first game, how did “Biohazard” become “Resident Evil?”

The Name Was Nearly Impossible To Claim

What American audiences know as “Resident Evil” is actually titled “Biohazard” in Japan. In the mid ‘90s, while in the process of trademarking and marketing Capcom’s upcoming third-person zombie shooter, the United States branch of the company found that it would be nearly impossible to secure the title “Biohazard” due to an already existing DOS game and a New York-based, hardcore band already claiming the name.

After this revelation, the head of Capcom’s marketing department at the time found a solution through a company-wide contest to create a name for the now-iconic survival horror game before it came to the United States. The name chosen was, obviously, “Resident Evil” due to the cheesy pun factor of the title: the first game in the franchise takes place in a mansion filled to the brim with zombies and other monstrous creatures.

Two Titles Coming Together

And the two names for the same entries in the series have co-existed ever since. However, interestingly enough, the two titles actually came together in 2017 for the seventh main installment in the franchise with “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.” Or, in Japan, “Biohazard 7: Resident Evil.” Perhaps this was due to Capcom wanting to return to the series’ survival horror roots after the mixed response following the release of “Resident Evil 6.” Though, “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” did welcome a completely new play-style for the established series as the first mainline entry to utilize a first-person point-of-view – a feature that would again be used in its sequel “Resident Evil Village.”

In recent years, especially since the successful release of “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard,” the franchise seems to have found a fresh breath of life with its newer games and remakes of older games. Even with dual names, the “Resident Evil” – or “Biohazard” – franchise will surely continue to be one of the most recognizable titles in its genre.

Featured Image Courtesy of Capcom.

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