Resident Evil Updates Roll Out on iOS

TouchArcade Rating:

Capcom's recent update to Resident Evil 7 biohazard, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Resident Evil Village on iOS and iPadOS introduces an unwelcome change: mandatory online DRM. While updates often improve optimization or compatibility, this one requires an internet connection to verify your purchase every time you launch the game. This means offline play is no longer possible for these premium-priced titles.

Prior to this update, all three games functioned perfectly offline. Now, launching the game triggers a purchase verification, and refusing the check closes the application. While this might be inconsequential for some, the added DRM significantly diminishes the user experience and makes the games less convenient. This is especially frustrating for those who have already purchased the games.

Hopefully, Capcom will revise their purchase verification system to minimize disruption, perhaps by checking less frequently. This forced online check negatively impacts the value proposition of these premium mobile ports, making them harder to recommend.

If you're considering these games, free trials are available. You can download Resident Evil 7 biohazard here, Resident Evil 4 Remake here, and Resident Evil Village here. My reviews can be found here, here, and here, respectively.

Do you own these Resident Evil games on iOS? What are your thoughts on this update?