Resident Evil 2 director didn't want to include any characters from the first game, but compromised by adding Claire Redfield after being grilled about it

Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya has explained why the game introduced an entirely new cast, as opposed to bringing ...
IGN

Aim to please.

There's a new version of Resident Evil 2 made specifically for arcades, and an early version of it is already playable at Namco Funscape in the UK. Resident Evil 2: Dead Shot, as this on-rails ...
PlayStation Universe

Resident Evil 2 Director Admits He Didn’t Originally Want To Include Characters From RE1, Then ‘Mr. Sugimura Got Angry At Me’

Hideki Kamiya has revealed he didn't originally wanted to see any returning charaters in Resident Evil 2, but after Noboru Sugimura disagreed, they compromised by adding Claire Redfield.