23 Oct 2025

Huge news for horror fans and mobile strategists alike: the new co-developed title, Resident Evil: Survival Squad (also referred to as Survival Unit), is on track for a global launch this year, and players have already gotten a taste. Co-developed by Aniplex and JOYCITY, Resident Evil: Survival Squad mobile game is mixing the classic dread of Resident Evil with deep, strategic tower defense mechanics—a surprising, but potentially brilliant, blend.
Resident Evil: Survival Squad had a playable version at Tokyo Game Show 2025, which immediately set the community buzzing. Now, thanks to recent developer interviews, we have a wealth of information about how this new experience will actually work.

Horror Meets RTS: A Three-Phase Experience

This isn't just a simple base-builder with zombies. The development team is crafting a structured experience that evolves as you play, aiming to keep both horror veterans and strategy fans engaged.
Phase One: Action & Atmosphere. It starts out feeling much like the classic games. Think puzzle solving and escaping tight, terrifying corridors. The developers prioritized this initial "action" phase, reportedly dedicating over 60% of their resources to ensuring that the feeling of a true Resident Evil experience—the atmosphere, the tension—is perfectly captured on mobile.
Phase Two: The Stronghold. This is where the strategy pivots. Players, assuming the role of an ordinary but "quick-witted" protagonist, work alongside franchise favorites like Leon and Jill to build and develop a base—a kind of 'Safe House,' recreating the classic sense of security we remember from the original Raccoon City mansion.
Phase Three: Global Strategy. The game culminates in a world-map-based strategy element, where global players will collaborate in real-time to combat the crisis. The theme is pure Raccoon City, drawing inspiration directly from the environments of the Resident Evil 4 and 3 remakes.

They’re even adding a new layer of horror with an original monster, "Mortem," designed by the legendary Yoshitaka Amano.

Perhaps the most reassuring detail for the mobile crowd is the monetization model. The developers, being fans of the series themselves, confirmed that the core content is fully playable without in-game purchases. They are skipping the reviled heroes.The core focus is on player collaboration against the common enemy—Umbrella. While there's a minor PvP element described as "simulation training," the game is fundamentally designed as a global multiplayer experience built around survival and teamwork.

The message is clear: the Resident Evil name is being treated with respect. With a global launch planned for the end of 2025, it seems fans won't have to wait long to step back into the terrifying streets of Raccoon City, this time with a team and a strategic plan.

Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to launch, and get ready to defend Raccoon City in a whole new way!