Square Enix has filed a new Parasite Eve trademark in Europe, leading to speculation that a fourth instalment in the action-horror franchise, or perhaps a remaster of some kind, is in the works at the Japanese studio.
The trademark, which is currently under examination, was submitted on the 22nd November and classified under categories 9 and 41 of the corresponding World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) document.
That being the usual clauses relating to “computer game software; video game software; sound recordings in the form of optical discs, magnetic discs, semiconductor ROMs featuring music and/or fictional stories; audio visual recordings in the form of optical discs, magnetic discs, semiconductor ROMs featuring music and/or animated fictional stories” etc. etc.
Parasite Eve Trademark Signals a Long-Overdue Return
For those who are unfamiliar with the series, Parasite Eve released on the original PlayStation back in 1998 and was based on the 1995 novel of the same name, written by Japanese pharmacologist and author Hideaki Sena.
The plot is unique, to say the least, revolving around a rookie NYPD officer named Aya Brea who, after a night at the opera ends in spontaneous combustion for the majority of the audience, becomes embroiled in a life or death struggle against a deadly strain of mitochondrial DNA. One that, concentrated into a mysterious woman named EVE, aims to reclaim the world from humanity.
A sequel, Parasite Eve II, was released on the PSOne two years later. Placing a greater emphasis on action this time around, trading the Active Time Bar and random encounters of the first game for something slightly faster and more immediate.
However, after Parasite Eve II, it’d be ten years before a second sequel was released. This one a PSP exclusive titled The 3rd Birthday.
Now, with its recent trademark application, Square Enix has signalled its intention to breathe new life into the series. Which, for many fans, must seem long overdue.
Source: World Intellectual Property Organisation via Gematsu – Image Credit: Alex Shepherd