While the Resident Evil 3 remake was relatively well-received by critics and fans, there was one big criticism levied at the game. The Resident Evil 3 remake is very short, with most players able to complete it in just five or six hours on their first playthrough. Luckily, it doesn't seem as though the upcoming Resident Evil 8 will have that problem, if a recent tweet by a reputable franchise leaker is any indication.
AestheticGamer is known for making accurate Resident Evil franchise leaks, and if they are to be believed, Resident Evil 8 will be the longest game in the series to date built with the RE Engine. This means that Resident Evil 8 will be longer than Resident Evil 7, as well as both the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes. However, there will likely still be some Resident Evil games that are longer, most notably Resident Evil 4 and 6.
Resident Evil 4 and 6 are two of the longest games in the series, taking around 15-20 or so hours for most players to complete. However, it should be stressed that game length doesn't equate to quality. While Resident Evil 4 is one of the highest-rated games of all time, Resident Evil 6 has the worst reviews out of any numbered Resident Evil game in series history.
Resident Evil games are typically built to be shorter experiences, but with significant replay value baked in. For example, Resident Evil 7 had multiple endings for players to see, whereas Resident Evil 3 remake has a ton of unlockable weapons and items that require multiple playthroughs. It's quite likely that Resident Evil 8 will have similar replay value for players to enjoy, though details on what exactly that will entail remains to be seen.
The Resident Evil 8 release date is expected to be early 2021, with some reports claiming that the game may even come out this January. Assuming those reports are accurate, then fans should be able to expect plenty more Resident Evil 8 information within the next few months.
It's likely that Resident Evil 8 will be featured at the Tokyo Game Show 2020 digital event, so perhaps specific release date information from Capcom will come then. Whatever the case may be, Resident Evil fans can look forward to seeing if Resident Evil 8's big gambles pay off when the game launches next year.
Resident Evil 8 will launch in 2021 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.