21 Years Ago Today, Capcom Released 'Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2'

In 2026, Capcom is arguably the massive juggernaut of the video game industry, already releasing Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata this year, with a new Onimusha game coming later this year, too. In the early 2000s, though, Capcom began to experiment with its IPs more and more, leading to the release of two titles that were far ahead of their time.

Today, April 26, 2026, marks the 21st anniversary of the North America release of Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2, a follow-up to Resident Evil: Outbreak, which released just a year prior. The two Outbreak games notably featured multiplayer gameplay, with players able to cooperatively tackle various scenarios with classic Resident Evil gameplay.

The focus on multiplayer wasn't the problem in 2004--it was the fact that the game released on the PlayStation 2 before online multiplayer gaming was common, and also before high-speed internet became a household staple. Multiplayer gaming would see a huge leap forward in the next console generation with the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, but the two Outbreak games were, unfortunately, just ahead of their times.

Players are able to pick between several different Raccoon City survivors, all with different stats, strengths, weaknesses, voice lines, and storylines. The game also featured a virus meter system that acted as a pseudo-timer for each scenario, which also emphasized that the games were clearly designed as multiplayer experiences.

Unfortunately, given the nature of the PlayStation 2 and the lack of high-speed internet for most players, the majority of fans were forced to play the game offline with AI-controlled partners, and the game suffers due to the AI's incompetence.

According to Metacritic, Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2 is sitting at a measly 58 metascore, with most of the reviewers having played the game offline. Some reviewers also took issue with the archaic nature of the game's tank controls and voice acting.

Since its initial release, the two Outbreak games have gained a passionate cult following, with many fans wishing for the two games to get remakes, much like the remakes of Resident Evil 1, 2, 3, and 4. Capcom hasn't stopped trying with multiplayer in recent years, with the release of Umbrella Corps and Resident Evil Re:Verse, but both titles were panned by critics and fans.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 2:16 PM.