Frank West is coming back, and this time he’s covered in more than just wars. According to a new report from MP1st that’s been partially corroborated by Video Games Chronicle, Capcom is working on a brand new Dead Rising game that brings back the franchise’s original protagonist for a wild adventure in Hollywood. The project has reportedly been in development since 2023 under the codename Rec, and it’s not another remaster or remake but a completely new mainline entry in the zombie-slaying series.
Hollywood Becomes a Zombie Playground
The new Dead Rising takes Frank West to Hollywood, where the action unfolds inside a massive enclosed movie studio lot. This isn’t just a random location choice. The game’s main villain is a deranged film director who traps Frank and other survivors inside the studio, forcing them to participate in twisted trials and challenges. His ultimate goal? Filming what he believes will be the perfect movie, with real zombies and genuine life-or-death stakes replacing special effects and stunt work.
This setting opens up creative possibilities that fit perfectly with Dead Rising’s over-the-top tone. Imagine fighting zombies through various movie sets representing different genres, from Western ghost towns to sci-fi space stations to medieval castles. The studio lot could include prop warehouses filled with improvised weapons, costume departments offering disguises, and sound stages that transform into unique combat arenas. It’s the kind of location that screams Dead Rising, where the absurdity of the situation matches the franchise’s signature blend of horror and dark comedy.
Frank West and His Camera Return
Frank West last appeared in Dead Rising 4 back in 2016, and that game didn’t exactly win over longtime fans. The photojournalist’s characterization felt off, they replaced his voice actor Terence J. Rotolo with Ty Olsson, and his personality shifted from the smartass-with-a-heart we knew into something that felt like a cheap imitation. The game removed beloved mechanics like Psychopaths (memorable boss fights against insane survivors), replaced them with generic Maniacs, and stripped away the time limit system that created Dead Rising’s signature tension.
The new Dead Rising reportedly aims to course-correct these mistakes. Frank’s iconic camera is making a comeback, allowing players to snap photos of zombie carnage, survivor rescues, and the chaos unfolding around them. Photography wasn’t just a gimmick in the original Dead Rising but an integral part of the experience that rewarded players for creative composition and documenting the outbreak. The camera also served narrative purposes, reinforcing Frank’s identity as a photojournalist chasing the story of a lifetime.
More importantly, the report suggests this new game might be a direct sequel to the 2006 original, potentially ignoring or retconning Dead Rising 4 entirely. That would place it somewhere in the franchise timeline after Frank exposed the Willamette incident, established his celebrity status, and before his character was ruined by becoming a washed-up conspiracy theorist. How this connects to Dead Rising 2 and 3, or whether it acknowledges those games at all, remains unclear.
Classic Mechanics Make a Comeback
Two of Dead Rising’s most defining features are reportedly returning: the time limit mechanic and survivor rescue system. The time limit gave the original games their unique tension. You couldn’t explore aimlessly or grind for hours because the clock was always ticking. Main story missions, side quests, and survivor rescues all operated on schedules. Miss a window and that survivor dies, that mission fails, or that story beat gets locked out of your playthrough.
Some players hated this pressure, viewing it as artificial difficulty that prevented them from enjoying the sandbox at their own pace. Others loved it precisely because it forced meaningful choices. Do you rush to save distant survivors or focus on the nearby mission? Can you complete multiple objectives in one trip, or do you need to prioritize? The time limit transformed Dead Rising from a typical open-world game into something that felt genuinely different, where replaying with better knowledge of the map and mission timing became part of the core experience.
Survivor rescues similarly defined the series identity. Finding terrified people hiding throughout the mall (or Vegas, or Los Santos, or wherever the game took place) and escorting them to safety created memorable moments. Survivors had different personalities, weapons, health levels, and AI behaviors. Some followed instructions perfectly while others panicked and ran toward danger. According to the leak, survivors in the Hollywood setting will appear as actors hiding from the zombie outbreak, which fits thematically while maintaining this franchise staple.
What About Psychopaths
One critical detail the leak doesn’t specifically mention is whether Psychopaths will return. These weren’t just boss fights but memorable encounters with survivors who’d snapped under the pressure of the outbreak. Adam the Clown terrorizing shoppers with chainsaws and balloons. Cliff Hudson having a PTSD breakdown in the supermarket. Larry Chiang defending his grocery store with shopping carts and vegetables. These fights were weird, challenging, and iconic.
Dead Rising 4 completely cut Psychopaths and replaced them with Maniacs, which were essentially just tougher regular enemies wearing costumes. This removed one of the franchise’s most beloved features. Interestingly, the cancelled Dead Rising 5 that Capcom Vancouver was developing before the studio closed would have brought Psychopaths back, according to former developer Marie Mejerwall. The Hollywood movie studio setting practically begs for creative Psychopath encounters. Imagine fighting a deranged method actor who thinks he’s actually a vampire, or a stunt coordinator using pyrotechnics and explosives, or a costume designer with a mannequin obsession.
Perfect Timing After the Remaster
Capcom released Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster in September 2024, updating the 2006 original with modern visuals, improved controls, and quality of life enhancements. The remaster was well-received and sold strongly, helping push the Dead Rising franchise from 16 million total sales in February 2024 to 18 million by January 2025. That’s a significant bump that proved renewed interest in Frank West’s zombie-slaying adventures.
The timing makes sense strategically. Reintroduce new and lapsed players to where it all began, remind them why they loved Dead Rising, then follow up with a proper sequel that addresses the mistakes of Dead Rising 4. Capcom has successfully executed this strategy with Resident Evil, releasing acclaimed remakes of RE2, RE3, and RE4 while developing new mainline entries like Village and the upcoming RE9. Dead Rising could follow a similar path, alternating between remasters of beloved older games and fresh entries that push the franchise forward.
When Could We See It
If the game has been in development since 2023, we’re looking at roughly two years of production by now. Modern AAA games typically require three to five years of development, which would put a potential release somewhere between 2026 and 2028. Capcom hasn’t officially announced the project, so we’re still in the rumor stage despite MP1st and VGC’s sources backing the information.
The earliest we might hear something official could be at a major gaming event like E3 (if it returns), Summer Game Fest, The Game Awards, or a dedicated Capcom showcase. Given that Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster only launched in September 2024, Capcom might wait until 2026 to announce the sequel, building anticipation while keeping the remaster relevant in the market.
FAQs
Is Capcom really making a new Dead Rising game?
According to reports from MP1st and partially corroborated by VGC, yes. Capcom is reportedly developing a new mainline Dead Rising game starring Frank West, though the company hasn’t officially announced it yet.
Where does the new Dead Rising take place?
The game is set in Hollywood inside a massive enclosed movie studio lot. The main villain is a deranged film director who traps Frank West and other survivors, forcing them to participate in trials to create his vision of the perfect movie.
Is this a remake or a sequel?
It’s reportedly a brand new mainline entry, not a remaster or remake. Sources suggest it may be a direct sequel to the original 2006 Dead Rising game, potentially ignoring or retconning Dead Rising 4.
Will Frank West’s camera return?
Yes, according to the leak. Frank’s iconic camera will return as a gameplay mechanic, allowing players to photograph the zombie outbreak and various moments throughout the game.
What mechanics are coming back?
The report claims the time limit mechanic and survivor rescue system will both return. These were signature features of the original Dead Rising that created unique tension and replayability.
When will the new Dead Rising release?
No release date has been announced. If the game has been in development since 2023 as reported, a realistic release window would be sometime between 2026 and 2028, though this is pure speculation.
What happened to Dead Rising 5?
Dead Rising 5, codenamed Dia De Los Muertos, was in development at Capcom Vancouver before the studio closed in 2018. That cancelled game would have featured Chuck Greene and been set in Mexico during Day of the Dead. The new Hollywood-set game is a completely different project.
Will Psychopaths return?
The leak doesn’t specifically mention Psychopaths, the memorable boss fights against insane survivors. However, given that Dead Rising 4’s removal of Psychopaths was widely criticized, and the cancelled Dead Rising 5 planned to bring them back, there’s hope they’ll return in this new entry.
What’s the game’s codename?
According to MP1st, the project is codenamed Rec, likely referencing both recording movies and the found footage horror style popularized by films like [REC].
Conclusion
The rumored new Dead Rising game sounds like exactly what the franchise needs after the disappointing Dead Rising 4 and the cancelled Dead Rising 5. By bringing Frank West back to his roots, restoring beloved mechanics like the camera and time limits, and placing him in a creative Hollywood movie studio setting, Capcom appears to be learning from past mistakes. The deranged director forcing survivors to film the perfect zombie movie creates a premise that’s simultaneously absurd and perfectly on-brand for a series that’s always embraced dark comedy alongside horror. While we’re still waiting for official confirmation, the success of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster proves there’s an audience hungry for more adventures with Frank West. If this Hollywood sequel delivers the mix of tension, creativity, and zombie-slaying chaos that made the original game special, it could revive Dead Rising as one of Capcom’s premier franchises alongside Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and Street Fighter.