Horror is big business

<figure> <img alt="Resident Evil hospital scene" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Sony Pictures" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-08-at-5.20.30-PM.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>This is</em> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/the-stepback-newsletter">The Stepback</a><em>, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how pervasive horror has become, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/authors/andrew-webster">follow Andrew Webster</a>. </em>The Stepback,<em> arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for</em> The Stepback <em><em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/newsletters">here</a></em>.</em></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How it started</h2> <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Resident Evil</em> has been around for 30 years, but the survival horror series is more popular than ever. The most recent game, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/883947/resident-evil-requiem-review-ps5-xbox-switch-2"><em>Resident Evil Requiem</em></a>, has sold 8 million copies since it launched in February, already making it <a href="https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/million.html">the 14th best-selling game that Capcom has ever made</a>. At the same time, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/996416/resident-zach-cregger-review">a reboot of the <em>Resident Evil</em> film series from <em>Weapons</em> director Zach Cre …</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/column/1008432/horror-popular-widows-bay-resident-evil">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>