A beloved zombie action-adventure series that Capcom parked for years is stirring again: according to a new report, a project codenamed Rec has been in development since 2023, set on a huge, walled-off Hollywood studio backlot and, crucially for long-time fans, putting Frank West back in the lead, strongly hinting at a direct sequel to the original game.

Dead Rising is one of Capcom’s most cherished zombie action-adventure franchises, yet it has been left on the shelf for a long time. The last mainline entry launched back in 2016, even though a remastered version of the first game turned into a big success last year, proving that the fanbase and appetite for the series are still very much alive.

It now looks like Capcom has taken note of that growing demand and quietly spun up a brand-new project. According to a recent report, the publisher has been working on a new game under the codename Rec, with development reportedly underway for at least two years, even if the title has not been officially unveiled to the public yet.

If this new Dead Rising can marry modern visuals and up-to-date gameplay systems with the series’ signature dark-fantasy tone and black humor, it has every chance of becoming a standout hit for Capcom on current-generation hardware.

As MP1st reports, the game is supposedly set in Hollywood, mainly inside a sprawling, sealed-off studio lot that is packed with zombies from one end to the other, exactly the kind of over-the-top playground fans would expect from the franchise.

The same report claims that Frank West, the series’ much-loved photojournalist, will once again step into the role of protagonist. That detail strongly suggests this new entry is being positioned as a direct follow-up to the first game, especially since the spotlight shifted to Chuck Greene in Dead Rising 2 and later installments.

Capcom also appears keen to keep the series’ tongue-in-cheek edge intact. The main villain is described as an eccentric movie director who forces Frank West and other survivors through a series of deadly set pieces, all in the name of capturing the most spectacular footage possible for his film.

Fans Have Been Asking For More Dead Rising For Years

The developers are said to be bringing back several familiar mechanics, including Frank’s camera and the time-limit structure that defined the early entries. On top of that, the survivor-rescue system may return as well, since some well-known faces from the franchise, such as Isabela Keyes, are reportedly set to appear in the new game.

For now, the project is described as being a “considerable distance” from release, which means it could be quite some time before Capcom is ready to share concrete gameplay footage or a release window.

The publisher is also entertaining the idea of a hypothetical Dead Rising 2 remake, a possibility that surfaced in a survey sent out last year. Taken together, these signs point to a future that looks brighter than it has in a long time for the Dead Rising franchise.

Source: tech4gamers