Resident Evil Requiem gets new gameplay showcase trailer with over-the-top Leon action — fans are still angry about no demo from Capcom, though

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Resident Evil Requiem (also called Resident Evil 9) is one of the most anticipated games of the year. It’s the newest installment in Capcom’s popular Resident Evil series. Announced last year at Summer Game Fest with a release date of February 27, 2026, pre-orders opened in October. Now, the developers have shared a comprehensive look at the gameplay before it launches on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.

The highlight of Thursday’s Resident Evil Showcase was a presentation you can watch here or in the video below. It mainly focused on the differences in how Leon Kennedy and the new character, FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, play, and showed both characters in action.

The story in Requiem will unite the two main characters, but you’ll play as each of them separately, switching between their perspectives throughout the game. Capcom designed it this way to create the feeling of playing two distinct games within a single experience.

Leon’s gameplay will focus more on action, taking cues from the exciting fights in Resident Evil 4. He can now block attacks with his hatchet and shoot zombies in the arms or legs to slow them down, create openings for powerful attacks, and perform over-the-top finishing moves. Plus, he can grab weapons from defeated enemies, adding variety and unique strategies to battles.

Grace’s gameplay focuses more on horror, similar to games like Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 7, with a lot of claustrophobic environments. While not as strong in combat as Leon, she has a very powerful revolver named Requiem – a nod to the game’s title – that can help her escape tough spots. However, ammo is scarce, so players will need to rely on stealth and strategic retreats to survive.

Grace has a cool risk-reward mechanic: she can create powerful injectors for quickly defeating zombies, but crafting them requires infected blood dropped by enemies. This means you’ll have to engage in combat to gather resources, even if you’d rather avoid it, to have these helpful items ready when you need them.

A new feature for the Resident Evil series lets you play as either character in both first-person and third-person perspectives. The game also includes a Casual difficulty mode for a more relaxed experience with unlimited saves. For those seeking a challenge, the Standard (Classic) difficulty limits saving to specific points and requires limited Ink Ribbons, making each save a strategic decision.

The game also demonstrated that the zombies in Resident Evil Requiem are special – they don’t just act like mindless monsters. They often keep some of their old habits, like a chef zombie still trying to cook in a kitchen. Understanding and using these behaviors is a key part of the gameplay, particularly when playing as the character Grace.

I enjoy the Resident Evil series, though I wouldn’t call myself a massive fan. Everything Capcom showed off at their recent event looked fantastic, and I’m excited to try Requiem when it releases in February. However, many fans were hoping to see more, and were disappointed that a playable demo wasn’t available.

Capcom stated in November that there wouldn’t be a demo for the game, and despite fans hoping they might change their minds before launch, it looks like that won’t be the case. Hopefully, a demo will be released after the game is out.

Resident Evil Requiem will be released on February 27, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Early looks at the game have been promising, and pre-orders are now available. The standard edition costs $69.99.

What were your impressions of the Resident Evil Requiem reveal at the recent showcase? Are you looking forward to playing it, or doesn’t it seem like something you’d enjoy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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2026-01-16 02:39