While horror classic Resident Evil 4 is getting a big makeover this month, don’t expect the same treatment for the game’s iconic Chainsaw Controller.
The Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller came at a time when many gaming companies were experimenting with different types of weird controllers and peripherals. A product of the early 2000s, the gore-covered gamepad was designed for 2005’s original Resident Evil 4 on Nintendo GameCube.
The design is unforgettable from the moment you lay eyes on it. The bright yellow, bloodstained base is fitted with all the buttons you’d expect from a GameCube controller, and it’s connected to the chainsaw’s giant, bloody, purely cosmetic blade. With the Resident Evil 4 remake set to come out this month, naturally we thought it was fitting to ask Capcom about a potential return for the Chainsaw Controller.
The original Resident Evil 4 controller in all its gory glory. Photo credit: Matt Casamassina
“So first of all, thank you for remembering the controller,” Capcom producer Yoshiaki Harabayashi told IGN. “I mean, it was a great controller back in the day, but unfortunately we’re not able to recreate the Chainsaw Controller now.”
“I mean, one of the things that’s stopping us is that we’re releasing the game on so many platforms right now, so that’s a hurdle for us. And of course, the team focused a lot on the actual development of the game, so that took a lot of the time. So unfortunately, no Chainsaw Controllers as of now.”
Resident Evil 4 launched as a console exclusive on the GameCube, meaning the Chainsaw Controller only had to come in one version to match that console’s button layout. We loved its design and packaging back in the day, but its clunky control configuration and off-balance analog sticks made it less than ideal for actual play.
Resident Evil 4 is coming to PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 23. For more, check out our full Resident Evil 4 interview with director Yasuhiro Ampo and Capcom producer Yoshiaki Harabayashi, where we learned about parrying, new finishing moves, optional side quests, and more.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.