Dead Rising

Dead Rising is Capcom’s open-world zombie survival franchise created by Keiji Inafune, launched in August 2006 exclusively for Xbox 360. The series places players in zombie-infested environments with strict timers and a sandbox of improvised weapons built from consumer products, creating a tone that balanced comedic excess with genuine pressure. Four mainline entries ran from 2006 through 2016 before the closure of Capcom Vancouver ended the series’ active development. Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster in September 2024 revived the original game to positive reception, and Capcom listed Dead Rising as a leading brand in its 2025 financial report, with reports of a new entry in development set in Hollywood.

Dead Rising (2006)

Dead Rising released August 8, 2006, for Xbox 360, developed internally by Capcom and directed by Keiji Inafune. The game places photojournalist Frank West inside the Willamette Parkview Mall in Colorado during a 72-hour zombie outbreak, with the primary objectives structured around rescuing survivors and investigating the source of the infestation before a military pickup arrives. The sandbox of potential weapons, any object in the mall from lawnmowers to servbot helmets to lead pipes, and the timer that ran regardless of player actions distinguished Dead Rising from the fixed-path zombie games that preceded it. The game’s PS2 and Wii port, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop, arrived in 2009 with significantly reduced content.

Dead Rising 2, 3, and 4

Dead Rising 2 released September 28, 2010, for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, developed by Capcom Vancouver and shifting the protagonist to motocross champion Chuck Greene, whose daughter Katey requires regular doses of Zombrex to prevent her from turning following a zombie bite. The Fortune City casino setting and the Combo Weapons system, which allowed players to duct-tape power drills to motorcycle helmets and create increasingly elaborate improvised weapons, became the franchise’s defining additions to the formula. Dead Rising 2: Case Zero and Case West, digital-only releases for Xbox 360, served as a prequel and epilogue respectively. Dead Rising 3 in November 2013 was an Xbox One launch title set in the open city of Los Perdidos, expanding the world size dramatically while losing some of the original’s intensity through the removal of the strict time limits in its default mode. Dead Rising 3 was easily my favorite one of the whole series. Dead Rising 4 in December 2016 returned Frank West to a Christmas-themed Willamette in a game that received the most divisive reception in the franchise’s history.

Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster (2024)

Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster released September 19, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Windows, with a physical version following November 8, 2024. Developed by Capcom using the RE Engine, the remaster rebuilt the original game with new visuals, new voice acting replacing Frank West’s original voice performance, and quality-of-life improvements including the ability to walk while aiming. The game received generally positive reception from critics and players, with the improved production values praised while some noted the new voice direction changed the character’s comedic register. The Deluxe Remaster’s commercial success was widely credited with encouraging Capcom’s decision to designate Dead Rising as a leading brand in its subsequent financial reporting.

The Future of Dead Rising

Capcom listed Dead Rising alongside Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Dragon’s Dogma, Ace Attorney, and Onimusha as leading brands in its 2025 financial report, stating its intent to develop sequels, remakes, ports, and other projects across these properties. Reports from late 2025 indicated that a new Dead Rising game, codenamed Rec, was already in active development, set in Hollywood with Frank West returning as the protagonist. No official announcement has been made as of mid-2026.