The original Resident Evil video game was released under the title Biohazard in Japan.
Capcom launched the game in Japan on March 22, 1996, using “Biohazard” as its title. The name reflects the game’s focus on a biological outbreak, mutated creatures, and the danger posed by Umbrella’s experiments.
For releases outside Japan, Capcom changed the title to Resident Evil. The company faced trademark and naming concerns because “Biohazard” was already used by other products and was considered difficult to protect internationally. The localized title also helped distinguish the game in overseas markets.
This naming difference can cause confusion when reading Japanese game history. In Japan, the series is still known as Biohazard, while Resident Evil is the standard title in North America, Europe, and many other regions. The same regional naming pattern continued across later games, including Biohazard 2 and Biohazard Village.