Resident Evil 4 Remake could have started very differently. Data miners and modders recently uncovered evidence of a scrapped “Chapter 0” that would have put players in control of Ashley Graham before Leon Kennedy ever arrives in the Spanish village. The level was never finished and ultimately cut from the final game, but leftover files in the code reveal tantalizing glimpses of what Capcom originally planned for the remake’s opening.
What Was Chapter 0?
According to YouTuber Thekempy, who documented the discovery in a video published December 30, 2025, Resident Evil 4 Remake’s game files still contain references to an Ashley-focused prologue internally labeled as Chapter 0. While the sequence cannot be fully restored due to missing assets and incomplete programming, modders can piece together a rough outline of how it would have played.
The concept was straightforward but ambitious. Before Leon’s helicopter drops him off to investigate the village, players would experience Ashley’s perspective as a kidnapped victim trying to escape her captors. This would have provided context for her situation, established her as more than a damsel in distress, and given players a horror-focused intro sequence distinct from Leon’s action-heavy gameplay.
How Far Did Development Get?
The Chapter 0 files reveal that Capcom got surprisingly far into developing this sequence before cutting it. Ashley would start in a dark, confined space with no flashlight, making navigation nearly impossible without cranking up brightness settings. This design choice suggests Capcom wanted to emphasize vulnerability and horror, stripping away the power fantasy of controlling Leon with his arsenal of weapons.
Based on the leftover geometry and scripting, Ashley would crawl through a tunnel, navigate through rooms with boarded-up windows, and eventually make her way toward the village’s starting area where Chapter 1 begins. Multiple cutscenes were planned but never completed, resulting in crashes when triggered during restoration attempts. One cutscene would show Ashley crawling through a hole to escape, another would transition her arrival to the Chapter 1 location.
Why Was It Cut?
While Capcom hasn’t officially commented on why Chapter 0 was removed, Reddit discussions about the discovery reveal community consensus on the likely reasons. The most compelling argument focuses on pacing. Resident Evil 4 Remake already includes an Ashley-focused sequence in Chapter 9 where players must rescue Leon. Adding another Ashley segment at the beginning would have disrupted the game’s carefully crafted rhythm.
User Carlosfsn on the Reddit thread argued that including Chapter 0 would have significantly disrupted initial playthrough enjoyment, even if it was optional for subsequent runs. The existing Ashley segment in Chapter 9 works because experienced players can skip large portions by speedrunning the puzzles, which remain consistent across difficulty levels. An intro Ashley sequence wouldn’t offer the same flexibility since it would be mandatory for first-time players.
Another consideration is that Resident Evil 4’s strength lies in immediately establishing Leon as a capable action hero. The original 2005 game opens with Leon arriving at the village, quickly encountering the infected villagers, and demonstrating his combat skills. Starting with a vulnerable Ashley segment would fundamentally change that tone, potentially alienating players expecting the action-focused experience RE4 is famous for.
The Pacing Problem
| Aspect | With Chapter 0 | Without Chapter 0 (Final Version) |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Tone | Horror, vulnerability, helplessness | Action, competence, immediate danger |
| First Playable Character | Ashley Graham (no weapons) | Leon Kennedy (fully armed) |
| Player Expectations | Survival horror emphasis | Action-horror balance |
| Replayability | Mandatory slow intro every playthrough | Quick action start encourages replays |
Multiple Reddit commenters noted that RE4 Remake already suffers from occasional pacing issues compared to the original 2005 game. Adding a slow, stealth-focused Ashley prologue would have exacerbated those problems, especially for players attempting speedruns or repeated playthroughs on higher difficulties. The Ashley section in Chapter 9 is already polarizing among fans despite being skippable with knowledge and practice.
Ashley’s Role In The Final Game
The decision to cut Chapter 0 reflects Capcom’s broader approach to Ashley in the remake. Compared to the 2005 original where she had her own health bar and constantly needed babysitting, the remake redesigned Ashley to feel more like a natural companion. She no longer has a separate health bar; instead, she enters a downed state when taking too much damage and needs revival before dying.
This change addresses one of the original game’s most criticized aspects. Many players found 2005 Ashley frustrating, with her higher-pitched voice constantly calling “Leon! Help!” and her tendency to get grabbed by enemies disrupting combat flow. The remake gives her more agency, better AI pathfinding, and dialogue that establishes her as resourceful rather than helpless.
The Chapter 9 Ashley sequence showcases this improved characterization. Rather than just hiding in lockers and running away, remake Ashley actively solves puzzles using lanterns, navigates complex environments independently, and demonstrates problem-solving skills. A Chapter 0 intro could have reinforced these traits even earlier, but Capcom apparently decided showing was less important than maintaining pacing.
What The Reveal Trailer Showed
Interestingly, some Reddit users noted that early Resident Evil 4 Remake reveal trailers featured brief Ashley footage that didn’t appear in the final game. These snippets may have been from Chapter 0, shown to establish Ashley’s importance to the story before Capcom decided to cut the sequence. This wouldn’t be unusual; developers often include beta content in early marketing materials that gets revised or removed during development.
The practice of showing pre-release content that never makes it to the final game is common in the industry. Sometimes it’s intentionally misleading marketing, other times it’s simply that the trailer was produced before final cuts were made. For RE4 Remake, the latter seems more likely given how much other content Capcom added rather than removed.
Other Cut Content From RE4 Remake
Chapter 0 isn’t the only content that didn’t make it from the 2005 original to the 2024 remake. Several notable sequences were removed, redesigned, or significantly altered. The U-3 boss fight, a tense two-phase battle against a Frieza-meets-scorpion monster in a collapsing storage area, was completely cut. Ramon Salazar’s stone mech chase sequence was neutered, with his giant statue now stationary instead of pursuing Leon across crumbling bridges.
Perhaps most notably, the bulldozer sequence where Ashley drives while Leon shoots enemies from the flatbed was entirely removed. That segment divided opinion in the original, with some loving the change of pace and others finding it clunky. Its absence in the remake suggests Capcom prioritized consistency over variety in gameplay scenarios.
On the flip side, the remake added substantial new content not present in the original. New areas, expanded environments, additional puzzles, and the Separate Ways DLC featuring Ada Wong’s perspective all enhance the package. So while some beloved sequences disappeared, the overall content offering expanded significantly.
The Ashley Lamp Throwing Controversy
Another Ashley-related change that sparked discussion involves the lamp mechanics. In the original RE4, Ashley could throw oil lanterns at enemies during her solo section, setting them ablaze as a defensive measure. The remake completely reworked this, turning the lamps into puzzle elements instead. Ashley uses them to illuminate pathways and freeze the armored Armadura enemies in place rather than as weapons.
This change makes Ashley’s section more puzzle-focused and less combat-oriented, which fits the remake’s goal of distinguishing her gameplay from Leon’s. However, some players miss the satisfaction of actually fighting back as Ashley, even in that limited capacity. The lamp throwing wasn’t deep combat, but it provided agency that the puzzle-only approach doesn’t quite replicate.
Community Reactions
Reddit reactions to the Chapter 0 discovery split between those glad it was cut and those disappointed by what could have been. User Super_Imagination_90 argued that removing it was likely wise since RE4 Remake already experiences pacing slowdowns, and adding Chapter 0 might have made subsequent playthroughs less enjoyable. This perspective dominated the discussion, with most commenters agreeing that while Chapter 0 sounds interesting conceptually, it probably would have hurt the final product.
However, some players expressed genuine disappointment, wishing they could experience Capcom’s original vision. These fans argue that a properly executed Ashley prologue could have added emotional weight to her situation and made players more invested in protecting her throughout the game. The counterargument is that the existing cutscenes already establish her kidnapping adequately without requiring playable sequences.
The Broader Context
Chapter 0’s cancellation reflects broader questions about remake philosophy. Should remakes faithfully recreate the original experience with modern graphics and controls, or should they fundamentally reimagine the game with new content and structure? RE4 Remake leans toward the latter, making substantial changes while preserving the core gameplay and story beats fans love.
Capcom walked a tightrope with this remake, balancing nostalgia for the 2005 classic with modern game design sensibilities. Chapter 0 apparently fell on the wrong side of that balance, offering something new but potentially at the expense of what made RE4 special. Whether that was the right call depends on individual priorities, but the commercial and critical success of the final product suggests Capcom made the correct choice.
Can Modders Restore It?
The short answer is no, at least not completely. While modders can access the leftover Chapter 0 files and explore the incomplete geometry, too much is missing to create a proper playable experience. Critical cutscenes were never finished, Ashley lacks a flashlight making navigation nearly impossible, enemy AI isn’t programmed for the space, and the sequence abruptly crashes when trying to transition to Chapter 1.
What modders can do is document what exists, create video showcases of the rough environment, and speculate about how the final version might have played. This archaeological work is valuable for game preservation and development history, even if it can’t deliver a finished product. Perhaps in the future, dedicated fans might attempt to reconstruct Chapter 0 based on these remnants combined with educated guesses about Capcom’s intentions.
FAQs
What is Chapter 0 in Resident Evil 4 Remake?
Chapter 0 was an unused intro sequence where players would have controlled Ashley Graham before Leon arrives. It was never finished and ultimately cut from the final game, but leftover files remain in the code.
Why was Ashley’s Chapter 0 cut from RE4 Remake?
Capcom hasn’t officially explained the cut, but fans believe it would have disrupted pacing and created a slow, mandatory intro that hurt replayability. The game already includes an Ashley section in Chapter 9 that works better structurally.
Can you play Ashley’s cut level?
No, not properly. Modders can access incomplete environment geometry, but missing cutscenes, lack of proper lighting, and crashes prevent a full playable experience. It’s too incomplete to restore functionally.
What would Chapter 0 have involved?
Based on leftover files, Ashley would navigate dark corridors without a flashlight, crawl through tunnels, and eventually make her way to the Chapter 1 village area before Leon arrives. Multiple cutscenes were planned but never completed.
Are there other cut levels in RE4 Remake?
Several sequences from the original 2005 game were cut, including the U-3 boss fight, Salazar’s mech chase, and Ashley’s bulldozer driving section. However, Chapter 0 is unique as entirely new cut content rather than removed original content.
Did early trailers show Chapter 0 footage?
Some fans believe early RE4 Remake reveal trailers included brief Ashley footage that may have been from Chapter 0, shown before Capcom decided to cut the sequence. This hasn’t been officially confirmed.
How was Ashley changed in the remake?
Ashley no longer has a separate health bar and enters a downed state when hurt rather than being instantly grabbable. Her AI is improved, dialogue is less annoying, and she feels like a natural companion rather than an escort mission liability.
Why do Ashley sections exist at all?
Ashley sections provide gameplay variety, force players to solve problems without Leon’s weapons, and develop her character beyond just being a rescue objective. The Chapter 9 sequence is generally well-received despite some pacing concerns.
Will Capcom ever officially release Chapter 0?
Extremely unlikely. The content was cut during development for good reasons and Capcom has shown no interest in releasing incomplete or cut content as DLC. What exists remains an interesting piece of development history.
Conclusion
The discovery of Resident Evil 4 Remake’s cut Chapter 0 offers fascinating insight into Capcom’s development process and the difficult decisions that shape final products. While an Ashley-focused prologue sounds compelling on paper, the evidence suggests Capcom made the right call cutting it to preserve pacing and replayability. The leftover files serve as an interesting glimpse into what might have been, but the overwhelmingly positive reception of RE4 Remake’s final form validates the choice to start with Leon’s arrival rather than Ashley’s captivity. Sometimes less really is more, and in this case, trimming the opening allowed the rest of the game to shine brighter. For modders and preservationists, Chapter 0 remains a valuable piece of development archaeology worth documenting even if it can never be properly played.