The wait is finally over – Resident Evil 9 has been officially announced as "Resident Evil Requiem," and it's set to revolutionize the survival horror franchise when it launches on February 27, 2026. After eight years since the last mainline entry, Capcom is returning to the series' roots with a chilling new adventure that promises to be "even better than Resident Evil 7".
Release Date and Platform Availability
Resident Evil Requiem will launch simultaneously across multiple platforms on February 27, 2026. The game will be available on PlayStation 5ation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. This marks a next-gen exclusive release, taking full advantage of modern hardware capabilities to deliver unprecedented visual fidelity and immersive horror experiences.
Pre-orders for the game went live on October 28, 2025, including both standard and Digital Deluxe editions. The Digital Deluxe edition features exclusive content including a Lady Dimitrescu outfit and additional story elements.
Storyline and Setting
The Ashcroft Legacy
The heart of Resident Evil Requiem lies in its deeply personal storyline centered around Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak. Grace works as an FBI intelligence analyst who finds herself thrust into a horrifying investigation when she's sent to the Wrenwood Hotel – the same location where her mother was mysteriously murdered eight years earlier.
Unlike previous protagonists, Grace is described as "introverted and easily scared," representing a new type of character for the franchise. Director Koshi Nakanishi deliberately chose this approach to create someone who "experiences horror from the same perspective as the player". Despite her fears, Grace possesses FBI training with firearms and analytical skills that prove crucial to her survival.
Return to Raccoon City
The game takes place approximately 30 years after the missile strike on Raccoon City, bringing players back to the franchise's most iconic location. However, this isn't the Raccoon City fans remember – it's a devastated wasteland shaped by decades of nuclear fallout and mysterious ongoing incidents.
Capcom's development team meticulously recreated the city by starting with the existing layout from Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes, then applying realistic physics to show how the nuclear blast would have affected different areas. The result is a hauntingly beautiful yet terrifying landscape that serves as the perfect backdrop for Grace's investigation.
The Mystery Unfolds
The central mystery revolves around Grace uncovering the truth behind her mother's death while confronting a new outbreak threatening the continent. The story suggests deeper connections to the original Umbrella Corporation incidents, with hints that powerful figures may be manipulating events from behind the scenes.
Fan theories suggest the return of Oswell E. Spencer as the primary antagonist, potentially having survived his apparent death through viral experimentation. The narrative promises to explore themes of family legacy, corporate conspiracy, and personal trauma as Grace learns disturbing truths about her mother's past work.
Characters and Cast
Grace Ashcroft - The Reluctant Hero
Grace serves as the primary protagonist, bringing a fresh perspective to the Resident Evil universe. Her background as an FBI analyst provides logical reasons for her investigative skills, while her emotional vulnerability makes players genuinely fear for her safety. The character development arc focuses on Grace overcoming her fears and discovering inner strength she never knew she possessed.
Leon S. Kennedy Returns
Leon S. Kennedy, the beloved franchise veteran, has been confirmed as a playable character in Requiem. While he wasn't featured prominently in the initial trailers, Leon's involvement suggests significant story implications and potential cooperative gameplay elements. Reports indicate he appears "much older" and sports an outfit similar to his look in Resident Evil: Damnation.
Supporting Characters
The game features returning characters including Barry Burton and Chris Redfield in supporting roles. Additionally, Rosemary Winters from Village is expected to play a crucial part in the plot, potentially providing solutions to the viral outbreak through her unique blood properties.
Alyssa Ashcroft, Grace's mother, appears through flashbacks and memories, helping players understand the connection between past and present events. Her role as a journalist who investigated Umbrella Corporation provides the foundation for the current crisis.
Gameplay Features and Mechanics
Dual Perspective System
One of Requiem's most innovative features is the fluid camera system allowing players to seamlessly switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. This builds upon the post-launch update for Resident Evil Village, giving players choice in how they experience the horror.
The first-person mode delivers intense, claustrophobic scares reminiscent of Resident Evil 7, while third-person provides the classic over-the-shoulder gameplay that defined Resident Evil 4. Notably, the third-person mode includes exclusive animations not visible in first-person, such as Grace stumbling while being pursued.
Classic Survival Horror Elements
Requiem returns to the franchise's survival horror roots with emphasis on resource management, puzzle-solving, and strategic combat. The game features the return of relentless pursuer enemies, drawing inspiration from iconic antagonists like Mr. X, Nemesis, and Lady Dimitrescu.
Players must navigate narrow corridors while being stalked by grotesque creatures, including a particularly terrifying light-sensitive monster that can burrow through ceilings. The chase sequences require quick thinking and environmental awareness to survive.
Enhanced RE Engine Technology
Built on Capcom's advanced RE Engine, Requiem pushes graphical boundaries with improved lighting, realistic physics, and detailed character animations. The technological advancements promise "gameplay that's more immersive than ever before" with enhanced raytracing effects perfect for creating atmospheric horror.
Development Team and Vision
Koshi Nakanishi Returns
The game is helmed by Koshi Nakanishi, the acclaimed director of Resident Evil 7 and Revelations. His return signals Capcom's commitment to maintaining the high-quality standards that made RE7 one of the franchise's most successful entries. Nakanishi's vision focuses on creating authentic horror experiences that prioritize player emotional engagement over action spectacle.
30th Anniversary Celebration
Resident Evil Requiem serves as a celebration of the franchise's 30th anniversary in 2026. The development team deliberately incorporated elements from the series' most beloved entries: the mansion setting reminiscent of the original game, two-character cooperative gameplay from RE2, and relentless stalker enemies from RE3.
Producer Masato Kumazawa emphasized the team's dedication to fan expectations, noting they experimented with online and open-world concepts but ultimately returned to the single-player, story-driven format that defines Resident Evil.
Read: Affordable PC System Requirements for Resident Evil 9 Requiem: Complete Budget Gaming Guide 2026
Leon Kennedy's Defining Final Chapter: What RE9 Requiem Means for Our Beloved Agent
As a longtime Resident Evil fan, there's something deeply emotional about watching Leon S. Kennedy potentially approach his final bow in Resident Evil 9 Requiem. After over two decades of watching this rookie cop evolve into one of gaming's most iconic protagonists, the leaked details surrounding his role in RE9 feel like witnessing the end of an era.
The Veteran Returns Home
What strikes me most about Leon's involvement in Requiem is the poetic justice of bringing him back to Raccoon City – the place where his nightmare began. That first night in 1998 changed everything for him, transforming an eager rookie into a hardened government agent. Now, at 49-50 years old, Leon returns to face the ghosts of his past in what leakers suggest could be his "send-off" from the series.
The Brazilian PlayStation Store leak that accidentally revealed Leon's inclusion through a special costume offering feels almost too perfect to ignore. It's classic Capcom – trying to keep their biggest surprise under wraps while accidentally spoiling it themselves. But honestly, did anyone really believe they'd return to Raccoon City without bringing back the man who survived its original hell?
More Than Just a Cameo
What fascinates me most is Dusk Golem's claim that players will actually spend more time as Leon than newcomer Grace Ashcroft, despite her being positioned as the main character. This suggests Leon isn't just making a nostalgic appearance – he's carrying significant narrative weight. The idea that he was "secretly hidden" in the first trailer makes me want to rewatch every frame, looking for subtle clues we missed.
There's something beautifully cyclical about Leon potentially serving as a mentor figure to Grace, an FBI analyst thrust into field work just like he was thrown into chaos on his first day. The parallel writes itself: the rookie cop who became a legend guiding another federal agent through her baptism by fire. It's the kind of character development that gives longtime fans genuine emotional investment.
The Weight of Years
I'm particularly drawn to the prospect of seeing an older, more weathered Leon. The fan community's mixed reactions to his aging reveal something interesting about our relationship with these characters – we want them to grow and change, but part of us wants to preserve them as the heroes we first fell in love with. Leon at 50 isn't the acrobatic agent we knew; he's someone carrying decades of trauma, loss, and hard-won wisdom.
The leaked details about Leon traversing the world in vehicles and his enhanced combat experience suggest Capcom is embracing his veteran status rather than trying to recapture his youthful energy. This feels like the right creative choice – acknowledging that heroes age, that experience matters, and that there's power in showing how someone survives multiple apocalypses.
Emotional Stakes and Legacy
If this truly is Leon's final major appearance, Requiem carries enormous emotional weight. This isn't just another mission – it's potentially his last chance to find peace with the horrors that have defined his adult life. The connection to the RPD, to his original calling to "protect and serve," creates thematic resonance that transcends typical video game storytelling.
What moves me most is the possibility that Leon's story comes full circle in the ruins of Raccoon City, perhaps finally laying to rest the demons that have haunted him since that September night in 1998. Whether he's mentoring Grace, confronting his past, or simply trying to prevent another catastrophe, Leon's presence in Requiem feels like more than fan service – it feels necessary.
The coy developer responses and carefully managed leaks only amplify my anticipation. Sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that know when to end, and if Resident Evil 9 is Leon's farewell, I hope it gives him the conclusion this legendary character deserves.
What to Expect in 2026
As February 27, 2026 approaches, Resident Evil Requiem represents more than just another sequel – it's Capcom's statement about the future of survival horror gaming. The game promises to balance nostalgic elements with innovative gameplay mechanics, creating an experience that honors the franchise's legacy while pushing it forward.
With only GTA 6 sharing a confirmed 2026 release date among major AAA titles, Requiem is positioned to dominate the horror gaming landscape. The combination of advanced technology, compelling storytelling, and refined gameplay mechanics suggests this could become one of the franchise's defining entries.
The return to Raccoon City after decades of absence, combined with the personal stakes of Grace's family mystery, creates the perfect foundation for both newcomers and longtime fans to experience the terror that made Resident Evil a household name.
