The wait is finally over. After years of speculation and “RE9” codenames, Capcom has officially pulled back the curtain on the next evolution of survival horror: Resident Evil Requiem. Set to launch on February 27, 2026, this ninth mainline installment isn’t just a sequel—it’s a massive, 30th-anniversary celebration that aims to bridge the gap between the series’ modern first-person roots and its classic third-person action heritage.
As we move through the final days of 2025, the hype has reached a fever pitch. Here is every vital detail you need to know before you step back into the nightmare.
The Story: A Return to the Ruins of Raccoon City
For the first time in over a decade, the series is returning to where it all began: Raccoon City. However, this isn’t the city we remember from 1998. Resident Evil Requiem takes place roughly 30 years after the missile strike that leveled the town. The ruins have become a localized “exclusion zone,” overgrown, haunted, and hiding secrets that the US government has spent three decades trying to bury.
The narrative follows two distinct protagonists whose paths are destined to collide:
- Grace Ashcroft: A new face to the franchise, Grace is an introverted FBI intelligence analyst. She is also the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft (the fan-favourite reporter from Resident Evil Outbreak). Driven by the mysterious death of her mother, Grace travels to the abandoned Wrenwood Hotel to uncover the truth, only to find herself hunted by a new biological threat.
- Leon S. Kennedy: The legendary survivor returns. Now a seasoned DSO agent, a more mature Leon is dispatched to investigate a string of bizarre deaths tied to a former Umbrella scientist, Victor Gideon. Leon’s journey will force him to confront the ghosts of his past in a way no previous game has explored.
Gameplay: Two Heroes, Two Horrors
Capcom is pulling off a daring mechanical feat with Requiem by offering a dual-protagonist system that balances two very different styles of play:
- Grace’s Campaign (The Survival Horror): Grace is not a soldier. Her sections are designed to be “true” survival horror—slower, more atmospheric, and terrifying. Players will rely on stealth, light management, and puzzle-solving. She is constantly pursued by a stalking “Stalking Creature” (rumored to be a twisted mutation of her own mother), reminiscent of Mr. X or Lady Dimitrescu.
- Leon’s Campaign (The Action Horror): Leon’s half of the game leans into the high-octane combat style of the Resident Evil 4 Remake. Expect intense gunfights, parrying mechanics, and even the return of his signature spin-kick as he battles a new, more intelligent strain of zombies and “G-Type” mutations.
Key Feature: For the first time at launch, players can freely switch between First-Person and Third-Person perspectives, allowing you to experience Grace’s dread or Leon’s action exactly how you prefer.
Platforms and Release Details
Capcom is sticking to a true multi-platform strategy for the 30th anniversary. Resident Evil Requiem will launch simultaneously on:
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC (Steam & Epic Games Store)
- Nintendo Switch 2 (Confirmed as a day-one launch title!)
Pre-Order Bonuses and Editions
If you’re looking to gear up early, pre-orders are currently live. The Standard Edition retails for $69.99, while the Deluxe Edition ($79.99) includes the “Deluxe Kit,” featuring nostalgic costumes like Leon’s classic Raccoon City police uniform and a “Dimitrescu” inspired outfit for Grace.
With its promise of 18+ hours of campaign play, dynamic enemy AI, and the long-awaited return to the series’ most iconic setting, Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be the definitive horror experience of 2026.
