Key Highlights:
- Capcom introduced a startup internet requirement for Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village on Apple devices in 2024.
- Players could continue offline after the initial startup check.
- Capcom reversed the change in April 2025 and removed the startup internet requirement from all three games.
Capcom introduced an internet connection requirement for several Resident Evil games on Apple devices in 2024.
The change affected Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, requiring players to connect to the internet when starting each app.
Once the game had launched, players could continue playing offline.
The requirement was later reversed. Capcom removed the startup internet check from all three games in April 2025.
At the time of the original change, the App Store update notes said the requirement had been introduced because of changes to the startup process.
Capcom did not publicly explain why the process had changed.
The restriction drew criticism because these are primarily single-player games and their Apple versions are marketed as portable releases for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Capcom had already brought Resident Evil 4 to iPhone 15 Pro and other compatible Apple devices by December 2023., while Resident Evil 7 followed in July 2024 and Resident Evil Village had arrived earlier.
The change therefore affected players who had already purchased the games before the new startup requirement was introduced.
Capcom later reversed course with updates released in April 2025. The App Store version histories for Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village state that an internet connection is no longer required when starting the apps.
Some network access is still required for actions such as first-time setup, account services or downloading additional content, depending on the game and platform configuration.
The reversal restored offline startup functionality to the Apple ports and resolved one of the main criticisms raised after the 2024 change.
