Resident Evil 2: Dead Shot Begins US Arcade Location Test

July 16, 2026

Bandai Namco and Capcom’s Resident Evil 2: Dead Shot has started a limited United States location test at a Round1 venue. The light-gun shooter remains in development, so this cabinet should be viewed as a work-in-progress rather than a confirmed final release.

The project first drew attention in July when it quietly appeared at a UK location test. It was formally presented at the Tokyo Game Show in September under the names Resident Evil 2/Biohazard RE:2 Arcade. At that event, US testing was listed for winter, while Japanese testing was announced for spring 2026.

Location-test note: An arcade location test functions much like a beta test. Features, balance, presentation and content may change substantially before production, assuming the game reaches production. The specific Round1 venue has not been identified at the organiser’s request.

Resident Evil 2: Dead Shot appears at Round1

The first US sightings came from Multibrawlr, who shared photographs and impressions after playing it for the first time late last week. Additional cabinet media was supplied by Manamaster, whose arcade discoveries have also included the US testing of Bike Dash Delivery.

The cabinet currently carries the Dead Shot subtitle, despite the Tokyo Game Show presentation using the simpler “Arcade” name. Its two light guns feature blowback, and the photographs provide a useful look at the cabinet interior, control panel and current hardware layout.

For readers comparing this machine with other formats, RETROCADE’s upright arcade range and arcade-machine buying guide offer broader context on cabinet design and ownership.

Gameplay footage and early impressions

New video from the US test adds to footage captured during the earlier UK appearance. The game’s first recorded UK gameplay video was previously shared by Toby, with further footage subsequently appearing from other sources.

The early gameplay feedback is mixed. Multibrawlr reports that the difficulty is particularly severe, with some attacks capable of reducing a full health bar to 20 or even 10 per cent in a single hit. That approach is not unique to arcade shooters, with some Raw Thrills titles using similarly punishing damage values.

On the positive side, the game is described as visually impressive and as having solid gameplay mechanics. Difficulty and balance can still be adjusted during development, so the test feedback may help shape the eventual version. Japanese testing in 2026 could provide another opportunity for the developers to assess player response.