Resident Evil Veronica Remake Dominates Steam Wishlists at Summer Game Fest 2025, Guild Wars 3 Trails by Nearly 100,000
The highly anticipated remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica has emerged as the undisputed champion of Steam wishlist additions following the Summer Game Fest 2025 showcase. Capcom’s announcement of the reimagined survival horror classic sent shockwaves through the gaming community, resulting in an unprecedented surge of player interest that has left competing titles struggling to keep pace. The game’s dominant performance on Steam’s wishlist rankings signals a massive appetite for classic horror experiences among modern gaming audiences.
According to data compiled from Steam’s tracking systems, Resident Evil Veronica accumulated wishlist additions at a rate that significantly outpaced all other titles announced during the festival. Guild Wars 3, the long-awaited sequel from ArenaNet that had been generating substantial buzz leading up to the event, found itself trailing by nearly 100,000 wishlists despite its own impressive showing. This substantial gap highlights the enduring power of established horror franchises and Capcom’s successful track record with its recent remake initiatives.
The original Resident Evil: Code Veronica holds a special place in gaming history as the first main entry in the series to debut on a non-PlayStation platform, initially launching on the Sega Dreamcast in February 2000. The game followed Claire Redfield’s harrowing escape from an Umbrella Corporation facility on Rockfort Island before transitioning to the Antarctic, introducing players to the villainous Ashford twins and expanding the series’ complex narrative surrounding the pharmaceutical giant’s bioweapon experiments. Critics and fans alike praised the title for its atmospheric tension, improved graphics over previous entries, and memorable boss encounters that pushed the survival horror genre forward.
Capcom’s remake strategy has proven extraordinarily successful over the past several years, beginning with the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019. That title went on to sell over 13 million copies worldwide, demonstrating substantial commercial viability for modernized versions of beloved classics. The subsequent Resident Evil 3 remake, while receiving more mixed reviews due to its shorter length and cut content, still performed well commercially. Most recently, Resident Evil 4’s 2023 remake received universal acclaim and became one of the fastest-selling entries in the franchise’s history, further cementing Capcom’s reputation as the industry leader in respectful yet innovative game remakes.
Summer Game Fest 2025 itself has evolved into one of the gaming industry’s most significant annual events since its inception in 2020 under the leadership of journalist and presenter Geoff Keighley. Created partially in response to the cancellation of E3 that year, the festival has grown to encompass multiple showcases from major publishers and has become the de facto kickoff to the summer gaming season. This year’s event featured announcements from dozens of developers and publishers, with the Resident Evil Veronica reveal serving as a clear highlight that dominated social media discussions throughout the weekend.
Guild Wars 3’s second-place showing, while technically a distant runner-up, still represents a significant achievement for ArenaNet and parent company NCSoft. The Guild Wars franchise has maintained a dedicated player base since the original game launched in 2005, with Guild Wars 2 continuing to receive substantial content updates more than a decade after its 2012 release. The announcement of a full sequel represents a major investment in the property and suggests confidence in the MMORPG market despite increasing competition from live-service games across multiple genres. Industry analysts note that nearly 100,000 wishlists behind the leader still places Guild Wars 3 among the most anticipated titles of the coming release window.
The wishlist metric has become increasingly important for developers and publishers as a predictive tool for commercial success. Steam wishlists serve as a free marketing mechanism, notifying users when games release or go on sale, and conversion rates from wishlist to purchase typically range between 10-20% depending on various factors including price point, reviews, and marketing timing. For Resident Evil Veronica, the massive wishlist numbers suggest Capcom could be looking at another blockbuster release when the game eventually launches, though no specific release date has been confirmed beyond a vague 2026 window.
The gaming community’s response to these announcements reflects broader trends in the industry, where nostalgia-driven projects continue to resonate strongly with audiences while new intellectual properties face steeper challenges in capturing attention. However, the strong performance of Guild Wars 3 demonstrates that established franchises outside the horror genre can still generate substantial excitement when properly positioned. As Summer Game Fest 2025 concludes, both Capcom and ArenaNet have reason to celebrate their successful showings, even as the competition for player attention grows increasingly fierce in an ever-expanding gaming marketplace.