Resident Evil 5 Loses Franchise Top Spot as Sales Shift

If you’ve been treating Resident Evil 5 as the franchise sales benchmark, Capcom’s newest financial figures say that era is over. The Resident Evil 2 remake has now surpassed Resident Evil 5 to become the top-selling entry in the series—an update that also reshapes what to watch next for upcoming releases and even the new live-action movie.

What changed in Capcom’s Resident Evil sales race

Capcom has reported new first-quarter results for its fiscal year, including updated cumulative sales for the Resident Evil franchise. According to the figures, total Resident Evil game sales have crossed 213 million units worldwide.

More importantly for long-time series followers, Capcom’s data indicates that the remake of Resident Evil 2 has reached 19.5 million copies sold. That number puts it ahead of Resident Evil 5, which previously held the franchise’s top spot.

This follows a broader context: the Resident Evil series has remained one of Capcom’s biggest and most dependable franchises since the original debuted in 1996, with consistent critical and player interest over time.

Who benefits: the games now leading (and what they sold)

The source figures also reinforce how close the top entries are. In a published bestseller ranking, Resident Evil 2 (2019) sits at 19.75 million, followed by Resident Evil 5 at 19.01 million. Resident Evil 7 biohazard is listed at 18.41 million and Resident Evil 6 at 17.60 million.

Resident Evil 5 originally launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2009, and was later ported to other platforms. It has remained widely available since launch, contributing to its long-standing 19.01 million total.

By contrast, the Resident Evil 2 remake’s continued momentum is now the story. The update frames it as a standout entry that has helped drive interest well beyond its initial release cycle.

What comes next: Requiem’s challenge and the movie’s potential effect

Capcom has already positioned another future sales contender in the mix: Resident Evil Requiem. The publisher previously described it as the fastest-selling game in the series, and the financial update says it has now reached 8 million units sold.

While Capcom hasn’t confirmed whether Requiem will eventually overtake the top entries, the source notes that Capcom’s games often continue gaining attention after launch. That makes it plausible the title could climb over time—though it’s not guaranteed.

Separately, the Resident Evil movie adaptation could provide a sales boost for the games. The film directed by Zach Cregger is set to arrive on September 18, and it is described as taking place within the continuity of the games, seemingly around the time of the Raccoon City incident covered in Resident Evil 2. The source points to past adaptation trends—such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Fallout—where audiences returned to the original games after watching.

What players should know

• Capcom’s update says Resident Evil 2 (remake) has reached 19.5 million copies sold, surpassing Resident Evil 5.
• Total Resident Evil series sales now exceed 213 million units worldwide.
• Resident Evil Requiem has reached 8 million units sold, but it’s still far from the top entries.
• A new Resident Evil movie (September 18) could renew interest in Resident Evil 2, potentially strengthening its lead later this year.

Top Resident Evil bestsellers (as reported)

Expert View

Capcom’s numbers confirm a clear shift: Resident Evil 2’s remake has become the franchise’s new sales anchor. The interesting part is what happens next—whether Requiem can keep expanding its audience over time, and whether the September movie acts as a catalyst for renewed interest in Resident Evil 2. For now, the leaderboard has changed, but the race is still very much alive.