Resident Evil Requiem will characteristic a return to the sequence’ “overarching narrative” begun 30 years in the past, Capcom has stated, following the launch of newer video games reminiscent of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village which centered on occasions set elsewhere, with fewer connections to previous titles.
Requiem not solely options the return of Raccoon Metropolis, however can even apparently choose up on the present standing of the shadowy Umbrella Company. The final we heard of that, the corporate had gone bankrupt. However is it again now, by some means — or did it ever actually go away?
Talking in a interview printed on the PlayStation weblog, Resident Evil Requiem producer Masato Kumazawa stated the sport was being designed to to commemorate the franchise’s thirtieth anniversary subsequent yr, when it releases on February 27, 2026, three many years on from the March 1996 launch of the unique Resident Evil.
“In latest mainline titles like Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, the sequence has explored the broader world of the Resident Evil universe by specializing in incidents involving the Winters household,” Kumazawa stated.
“With Resident Evil Requiem, nonetheless, we needed to return to a narrative that continues the overarching narrative rooted in Raccoon Metropolis and the key machinations of the Umbrella Company. Because the sequence celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, we consider Raccoon Metropolis is probably the most becoming setting.”
Whereas Resident Evil 7 is comparatively latest when it comes to the sequence’ general timeline, it nonetheless arrived again in 2017. Suppose again to after we final noticed traditional Resident Evil characters outdoors of remakes, and its clear the sequence has loads of fan-favorites ripe for a return.
One other traditional Resident Evil story thread that Requiem will hyperlink again to is that of spin-off sequence Resident Evil Outbreak, with new protagonist Grace Ashcroft the daughter of Outbreak’s Alyssa.
“When making a story set within the ruins of Raccoon Metropolis, we felt it was becoming to have a personality with a private connection to the town itself,” Kumazawa continued, referencing Leo- sorry, Grace.
“On this title, which goals to give attention to horror, we introduce Grace as a brand new, relatable protagonist, who’s not like earlier protagonists Leon or Chris,” he added.
Kumazawa went on to reiterate what have we heard from different Requiem builders beforehand, that Grace was particularly chosen as the sport’s protagonist as a result of she was somebody who nonetheless “jumps in fright” when an enemy seems.
However once more, Capcom has additionally acknowledged that Requiem will characteristic extra action-heavy sequences. And maybe it is right here that followers will get to play as somebody like Leon — somebody additionally with a private connection to Raccoon Metropolis — if he’s additionally within the recreation, as many followers nonetheless consider.
“We at all times thought of making Leon the protagonist,” Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi stated in the course of the Capcom Highlight 2025 broadcast final night time, earlier than saying he was a “unhealthy match for horror” gameplay. In a separate developer diary, Capcom confirmed it had experimented with plans to make Resident Evil: Requiem an open-world recreation, and for it characteristic on-line components, earlier than realising this wasn’t what followers needed.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You possibly can attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
