Unveiling the Lost Chapter of Resident Evil 4 Remake Featuring Ashley

Capcom has removed an entire chapter from the opening of Resident Evil 4 Remake that featured Ashley.

Modder Michael "Thekempy" Kemp has apparently restored this cut chapter, referred to as "Chapter 0," using leftover game files. Although there are no cutscenes or enemies in this section, the available pieces allowed for a rough reconstruction of the gameplay.

"It would have started with Ashley in the woods at night," Thekempy explained. "She stumbles upon Los Illuminados mid-ritual sacrifice."

This sequence was glimpsed in a story trailer released by Capcom in October 2022. Though it was ultimately not included in the final version of the game, Thekempy uncovered the path Ashley would have taken to witness the disturbing act, including a fork that led her to the village.

There are also indicators of scripted events that were meant to unfold in this chapter. For instance, one such event would involve Ashley sneaking past a Ganado who would be roaming the area.

Despite the absence of cutscenes, Thekempy could trigger autosaves, revealing information about what the cutscenes were labeled, hinting at what players might have experienced. The reasons behind the decision to cut this opening chapter remain unclear, but it may be that Capcom opted against starting the horror experience with a slow, non-combat scenario.

The highly anticipated Resident Evil Requiem is set to launch on February 27th next year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and Steam. Featuring dual protagonists, the game promises contrasting gameplay experiences likened to "jumping into a cold bath after a hot sauna." Additionally, Resident Evil 7 and Village will also be available on the Nintendo Switch 2.