Resident Evil 2 Getting “1-Shot” Demo Next Month

With just under a month until release, the Resident Evil 2 remake is right around the corner. Although it doesn’t appear that this game is in need of any further hype before it hits store shelves, Capcom appears to be giving skeptical fans (if there are any) a chance to try out the game before it’s available. For the rest of us, this could serve as a fun preview to hold us over until the big day since the publisher seems to be putting a unique spin on this demo.

TrueAchievements learned of the demo’s existence by scraping new product information from the Xbox Store, which included a “Resident Evil 2 1-Shot Demo” download and some official details. The unique part of this is that you only have 30 minutes to complete the demo, although you can die as many times as you need to in order to get through it. We’re not yet sure if that means only 30 minutes per session or if you only get that much time to play total, but you can read the full description for it below.

This specially tuned demo allows you to experience the newly reimagined Resident Evil 2, but be warned: whilst you can continue as many times as you like after dying, you'll only have 30 MINUTES to complete the demo. Take in the horror atmosphere at your own pace, or make a desperate dash to solve all the puzzles Raccoon Police Department has to offer? The choice is yours! Originally released in 1998, Resident Evil 2, one of the most iconic games of all time, returns completely reimagined for next-gen consoles. - Play individual campaigns for both Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield using an all new 3rd person view - Explore the zombie infested areas of Raccoon City, now stunningly re-built using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. - New puzzles, storylines and areas Note: This demo is available until 1/31/2019. You must be signed in and have an active internet connection to play.

At this time, it’s also unknown if this demo will only be available on the Xbox One or if Capcom has something similar planned for PlayStation 4 owners, but according to the information gathered, it will arrive on January 11th and remain active until the end of that month. The game comes out on January 25th so this could be the perfect trial to sate your hunger for human flesh just a tiny bit longer.

In case you missed it, you can find a recap of the game's bonus content below, including a look at the deluxe edition, which features additional costumes, reversible slipcover artwork, a special weapon, and even a throwback to the original game’s soundtrack. All pre-orders will also include the classic Jill and Chris models of the Samurai Edge handgun.

The most interesting bonus costume for the deluxe edition, in our opinion, is Claire’s "Elza Walker" outfit. Long-time fans of the series may remember this name and look from the unreleased beta version of Resident Evil 2, dubbed Resident Evil 1.5 by fans. Back then, the game was far along in development before the concept was scrapped and Capcom settled on the classic game we all know and love, which is, of course, the one now being remade.

Claire also has a military outfit while she and Leon both have a special "Noir" costume. The latter very much gives us a vibe for The Evil Within. Leon's other bonus costume, the "Arklay Sheriff" outfit, pays homage to The Walking Dead and gives our rookie police officer the more polished look of Rick Grimes.

Also included in the deluxe edition is Albert Wesker's Samurai Edge, which seems to always make an appearance in newer Resident Evil games, a reversible slipcover featuring Leon on one side and Claire on the other, and finally, a retro soundtrack swap that allows you play through this remake while listening to the classic ambience of the original game

Resident Evil 2 arrives on January 25th, 2019 and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

About the Author

Chris Morse

Programmer by day, writer by night. Having grown up surrounded by plenty of horror movies and video games, it only made sense for Chris to combine all of these passions into one place: Dead Entertainment. Whether he's working on designs, tinkering with the platform, or just writing up the latest horror news, he's sure to be hard at work keeping the wheels turning on this website no matter what time of day it is. When not coding or gaming, you can find him donning a Cheesehead and heading to the Midwest to cheer on his favorite NFL team, the Green Bay Packers. #GoPackGo

More Reading

The Past, Present, and Future of Resident Evil: All Roads Lead to Raccoon City Part 1

Presenting the first piece of our ongoing retrospective on Capcom’s iconic survival horror franchise.

Small Resident Evil 2 Update Adds Letter from RE3’s Jill, Read the Contents Here

It turns out the new achievement is related to a minor addition as opposed to a full DLC like some fans were hoping for.

Resident Evil 2 Remake Sales Surpass Original, New Jill-Related Achievement Revealed

The game may soon be receiving an update with at least a small tie-in to the upcoming remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.

Golden Joystick Awards: Resident Evil 2 is the Fan-Voted Ultimate Game of the Year

The survival horror title took home top honors as Days Gone and Devil May Cry 5 also earned some praise.