Microsoft announced today that the recently released demo for Capcom's much anticipated Resident Evil 5 has been downloaded by over 1.8 million people during its first week on Xbox Live. The demo was initially made available only to Xbox Live Gold members and was downloaded by 1.3 million gamers in the first three days. The demo became available to all Xbox Live members on January 29.

Microsoft also noted that the demo was downloaded by 53 percent of Xbox Live Gold members in Japan when it was first unveiled there as Biohazard 5. Demos are certainly a great way to build buzz around a game, but massive interest doesn't always translate into big sales, as Silicon Knights knows all too well with Too Human, which also saw large demo download numbers.

As a blockbuster franchise around the world (35 million sold so far), however, Resident Evil 5 is likely to sell pretty well when it launches on March 13. Capcom said last November that they anticipate the game to sell 3.25 million copies.

Resident Evil 5

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 1 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 2 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 3 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 4 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 5 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 6 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 7 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 8 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 9 of 38)

    First reports indicate that Resident Evil 5 will be set in a new desert location and star Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 1 fame. The game will apparently keep the control scheme and action of Resident Evil 4. (Screenshot 10 of 38)