Nearly three years after its release, Resident Evil 4 Remake continues to reveal hidden secrets—this time, modders have uncovered a fully cut prologue chapter starring Ashley Graham, originally intended as the game’s opening sequence. Dubbed "Chapter 0" in the game’s code, the unreleased content offers a fresh perspective on the horror classic’s early narrative, shifting focus to Leon S. Kennedy’s mission target before his arrival in the iconic Spanish village. The discovery, shared by YouTube modder Thekempy and other community researchers in early January 2026, has reignited discussions about Capcom’s development choices and the untold layers of the game’s story.
What Was the Cut "Chapter 0"? A Deep Dive Into Ashley’s Lost Opening
Pieced together from leftover game files, environmental traces, and script triggers, "Chapter 0" was designed to put players in control of Ashley Graham in the moments leading up to her capture by the Los Illuminados cult. The prologue would have opened with Ashley wandering through a dark, moonlit forest at night, creating a tense, vulnerability-driven atmosphere far removed from Leon’s action-heavy introduction. Unlike the final game, which drops Leon directly into the village chaos, this opening focused on stealth and atmosphere over combat, tasking Ashley with evading patrols of infected villagers (Ganados) without any means of defense.
Key story beats of the cut prologue include a pivotal moment where Ashley stumbles upon a Los Illuminados sacrificial ritual—a scene that briefly appeared in Capcom’s October 2022 story trailer for the remake but was absent from the final release. From there, her journey would have led her toward the village, with scripted events guiding her through a small hut (entered via a window), a narrow tunnel, and a hiding spot in a wall niche. Modders also uncovered triggers for a "panicked run" animation, which would activate as Ganados began chasing Ashley, amplifying the sense of dread by forcing players to feel her desperation.
The prologue’s narrative would have further intertwined with other key characters: unused triggers suggest Ashley would have witnessed Luis Sera being dragged away by a Ganado, foreshadowing their later interactions in the main game. The sequence was intended to end with Ashley’s capture, directly leading into her imprisonment in the village church—a seamless bridge to the opening of the final game. Interestingly, files also hint at a scrapped mechanic where Ashley might have used a phone as a light source to navigate the dark forest, though this feature was never fully implemented.
How Modders Unearthed the Lost Content
The discovery of "Chapter 0" came from meticulous digging through Resident Evil 4 Remake’s backend files by modders like Thekempy. While most of the prologue’s environmental details and cutscenes were removed, the game’s code retained critical traces: unused player spawn points, scripted event triggers, pathing data, and character animations. Modders used free camera tools and file restoration software to map the prologue’s layout, confirming its location on the game’s world map (though the area is inaccessible in the final version).
Despite these efforts, the prologue remains unplayable in its current state. Activating many of the leftover event triggers causes the game to crash, as key cutscenes and transition animations were completely deleted from the final build. Even so, the restored footage shared by modders offers a clear picture of Capcom’s original vision, from the forest’s eerie lighting to Ashley’s distinct movement animations.
Why Was "Chapter 0" Cut? Capcom’s Likely Motivations
Capcom has not officially commented on the decision to remove "Chapter 0," but industry analysts and community members have proposed several plausible reasons. The most widely accepted theory centers on pacing: Capcom likely wanted to maintain the remake’s fast-paced energy by opening with Leon’s action-packed arrival, rather than a slower, stealth-focused prologue. This aligns with the studio’s approach to other recent Resident Evil remakes, which prioritize immediate tension over gradual worldbuilding.
Another factor may have been player reception concerns. Ashley has long been a divisive character among Resident Evil fans, with some criticizing her portrayal as a "damsel in distress". A prologue focusing solely on her could have risked alienating players eager to take control of Leon, a fan-favorite protagonist. Additionally, the technical challenges of finishing the prologue—such as implementing the phone light mechanic and polishing the stealth sequences—may have led Capcom to cut the content to meet development deadlines.
Community Reaction: Excitement and Speculation
The discovery of "Chapter 0" has sparked widespread excitement in the Resident Evil community, with fans debating whether the cut prologue should have been included in the final game. Many have praised the atmospheric potential of Ashley’s perspective, arguing it would have added depth to her character and the game’s horror elements. Others have echoed Capcom’s likely pacing concerns, noting that the remake’s opening is already celebrated for its immediate intensity.
Modders have also expressed interest in fully restoring the prologue, though the technical hurdles remain significant. Even partial restorations—such as playable segments without cutscenes—could offer fans a chance to experience the lost content firsthand. For now, the footage shared by Thekempy and others serves as a fascinating glimpse into the alternate version of Resident Evil 4 Remake that might have been.