Resident Evil 5 fans critique 30th Anniversary focus on Lady Dimitrescu
RE5 Fans Question 30th Anniversary Service Focus on Lady Dimitrescu
The year 2026 marks the official 30th anniversary of the Resident Evil franchise. This major milestone is guaranteed to bring numerous exciting projects. Planned activities include the launch of the film Requiem, which revisits Raccoon City. A special collaboration with the Japanese band BABYMETAL is also confirmed.
Recently, some fans voiced strong concerns about the celebration’s focus. They feel the events show little “fan service” or respect for the franchise’s legacy. Their main critique is that Lady Dimitrescu has been overused. This overuse, they argue, neglects iconic core characters like Chris, Jill, and Leon. They also questioned why the anniversary events seemed to feature only Lady Dimitrescu.
Remembering the Resident Evil 5 Legacy
Fans often reference the legacy of Resident Evil 5 when discussing the series’ central heroes. Resident Evil 5 was a critical entry in the franchise. It was the first mainline title using high-resolution graphics technology. More importantly, it features key protagonists Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. It also included the popular Mercenaries mode. This mode brought back a full roster of fan-favorite S.T.A.R.S. characters. These include Wesker, Barry, and Rebecca. For many, RE5 represents a high point of the classic characters coming together.
The Dominance of the Duchess
Returning to the present day, many players feel Lady Dimitrescu dominates the spotlight. She first appeared in Resident Evil Village. She serves as one of the key boss characters players fight. She received the most promotion, even more than her counterpart, Heisenberg.
Beyond the special collaboration, she is featured in a Grace character skin DLC. This skin mimics her iconic attire. Supporters, however, suggest CAPCOM views her as vital to the franchise’s visibility. They see her as the “most recognizable villain” of the 2020s era. This is similar to Nemesis from the third installment, who also guest-starred widely. Regardless, critics note that the 30th-anniversary celebration has not officially begun. It may be premature to judge the full lineup of planned events.
THIS IS our take:
The argument from the RE5 fans is fair—it’s tough to have a 30th anniversary without heavy hitters like Chris and Jill taking the stage. However, Lady Dimitrescu is a marketing magnet; she literally broke the internet. CAPCOM knows she sells. The real test is whether they can successfully balance that modern popularity with the nostalgic love for the heroes who started it all. If the 30th anniversary features her and no one else, we might need to send Chris Redfield over to the CAPCOM marketing team.
