Resident Evil 4 HD Project

Lore & Background

The mod's development began shortly after the PC release of Resident Evil 4 in 2014, though planning had been underway since 2008. Over the next seven years, Albert Marin and Cris Morales invested approximately 13,000 hours and $15,000 in expenses, covered by donations. The mod remasters visuals across all gameplay sections, all cinematics, and the Separate Ways side game, which was available on every official Resident Evil 4 release except the original GameCube version and the Oculus Quest 2 port. In addition to texture improvements, many item models, level geometry, and lighting were changed. The mod also restores missing effects such as depth of field, which had been lost in previous ports from the GameCube to other systems.

The developers were stated to be 'unfazed' by rumors that Capcom was remaking Resident Evil 4, which were confirmed in a PlayStation blog post on June 2, 2022. Albert noted that Capcom's latest remakes are 'way different from the original versions,' calling the original game still worthy of a remaster. The mod was developed with no input from Capcom, although early in development the team was sent a planning document by a Capcom employee interested in the project. Capcom did not attempt to hinder the mod and allowed the developers to pin a post in the game's Steam forums. After completing the HD Project, Marin stated he had been hired by Nightdive Studios as a result of his experience remastering games, marking his first job in the video game industry.

Reader's Guide

The Resident Evil 4 HD Project stands as a landmark in fan-driven game preservation and remastering. Its significance lies in its extreme accuracy and attention to detail, which critics unanimously praised. Alice O'Connor of Rock Paper Shotgun called it 'one of the most impressive mods going,' noting that its care and attention to detail surpassed Capcom's official remaster and Resident Evil 4 VR. She highlighted that many original textures were located by the modders in real life and re-photographed for perfect accuracy, putting Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition 'to shame.' Robert Zak of PC Gamer stated that the original remaster was not the best representation of the game possible, with textures only 'marginally cleaner' than the GameCube version, and that the HD Project was 'finally about to put that right.' Shaun Prescott of the same publication described the mod as 'a long, labor-intensive tribute to the classic game, born of the creators' frustration at Capcom's light-of-touch handling of the PC version.' The mod's legacy is that of a community-driven effort that achieved what the official publisher did not, setting a high standard for fan remasters.

Did You Know?

• The mod took approximately 13,000 hours to develop and cost about $15,000, covered by donations.
• It restores missing effects such as depth of field that were lost in previous ports from the GameCube.
• After completing the HD Project, Albert Marin was hired by Nightdive Studios, his first job in the video game industry.