Following a moderately intense Summer Game Fest, featuring notable titles such as “Onimusha: Way of the Sword” and “Stranger Than Heaven”, along with an unexpected early arrival for “Lies of P: Overture”, came the main event’s unveiling. The highly-anticipated “Resident Evil 9”, formally called “Resident Evil Requiem“, has been confirmed, and it will be available on February 27th, 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Instead of Leon being the central character as rumored, surprisingly, the first trailer introduces Grace Ashcroft, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, who investigates an unexplained death involving an unidentified illness. In the world of Resident Evil, such circumstances usually signal ‘nothing good.’ Upon being summoned to her supervisor’s office, Grace is tasked with looking into another murder at the Wrenwood Hotel – a place where her mother, Alyssa, was killed eight years ago. This presents a challenge because it’s the same location of her tragic past.
Following brief recollections of Alyssa, with a figure cloaked in a hood, Grace finds herself restrained on a gurney, seemingly floating against a wall. The scene transitions to an unidentified voice advising her to “Keep near” and “They’re approaching.” In a run-down house, a cryptic character sitting next to an old gramophone discusses Ashcroft as the one he has long been seeking – the “exceptional one” and the “chosen one.
Afterward, we’re escorted to a recognizable location – Ground Zero of Raccoon City, post the incident in Resident Evil 2. The area is marked by a large crater and various buildings, including the old police department station. Remarkable dialogues from unidentified characters can be heard, although the most poignant ones are a woman saying “Please understand that you are my only hope,” and a child stating “Everyone seems to have disappeared.” This may hint at a past scene before Alyssa’s demise, followed by Grace explaining her ordeal to whoever saved her.
The situation intensifies as a man lies critically injured on the floor, pleading for people to keep their distance. Suddenly, a massive entity emerges from a hidden trapdoor in the ceiling, landing heavily on the floor in a corridor where a horse statue stands at the end. Meanwhile, an unidentified individual is choked by a hooded figure, and a police officer seems to be affected by…something, possibly the same illness affecting other cases. As we approach the title sequence, a woman is walking down a hallway that resembles a medical facility, but it’s not immediately clear where it is. Just before the title appears, we catch a glimpse of a mutated human and the sound of clanking chains, which may be the same figure that slipped into the corridor earlier.
There’s much to explore here, but it’s worth looking at the official site, where the tagline reads, “A musical tribute for the deceased. A nightmare for the living.” To clarify, ‘Requiem’ refers to a ceremony to honor the dead in music. The developer hints that players will need to “Brace yourself for an adrenaline-pumping escape from death that will send shivers down your spine,” and it seems to suggest a new chapter in the horror genre starting in 2026. This ties into rumors that the ninth installment of ‘Resident Evil’ may conclude the current storyline, leading to a fresh start with the next game, which appears to be a reboot without numbering.
The press release details how RE Engine is utilizing advanced consoles to provide lifelike facial expressions, textures, and even detailed “sweat beads,” similar to Grace’s portrayal. It also verifies that players will revisit Raccoon City, blending the heart-stopping elements of psychological horror with exhilarating action that fans are familiar with from the franchise.
The bird’s-eye view of Raccoon City may give the impression of a more expansive, open-world gaming experience, however, this might not be entirely accurate. It has been suggested by Insider Aesthetic Gamer (also known as Dusk Golem) that there was a plan to develop an open-world version of the game with multiplayer capabilities prior to a significant reboot in 2021 after the release of Resident Evil Village. While it remains unclear if this is factual, an open-level layout wouldn’t be entirely unexpected. It’s possible that the game could build upon its predecessor’s structure, providing more freedom while still maintaining the classic Resident Evil feel, but with a more engaging gameplay experience.
Grace appears to be an unexpected element in the story, given that previous rumors suggested Leon as the main character. However, it’s important to note that the developer hasn’t definitively confirmed that Grace is the sole character, and at this point, they wouldn’t necessarily reveal such details. The development team has a history of using misdirection, like the Chris teaser in Resident Evil Village where he was initially only hinted but later became playable for a limited time. If Leon is playable, as hinted by Dusk Golem, it seems the developer will keep his appearance as a major surprise.
I’m intrigued by Grace’s role due to her mother, Alyssa. She was featured in the game Resident Evil Outbreak, having lived through the bombing of Raccoon City, and later wrote an exposé on Umbrella USA’s involvement. Interestingly, there’s a news report in Resident Evil 7: biohazard about missing persons (the same ones linked to the Baker family). However, for most purposes, Alyssa is considered a minor character. It seems she might be a link to something much larger happening, which could possibly involve Leon and other aspects of Raccoon City.
I tend to think, albeit just speculation, that the creature depicted in the trailer might be Alyssa. It’s an intriguing idea, but it could be that the “Requiem” in the title signifies Grace giving her mother a final farewell while also addressing past traumas. This theory would align with the “Nightmare for the living” tagline, as there’s little doubt that seeing Alyssa in such a grotesque, terrifying form and possibly having to eliminate her could be the worst-case scenario for Grace.
From the preview, it seems that players might journey back in time, living through Alyssa’s perspective to enhance the mystery. Additionally, Grace’s wounded state suggests she has undergone surgery; however, it remains unclear whether this was for healing or altering her physique in some manner. Lastly, there’s a cryptic figure near the gramophone whose attire resembles that of Albert Wesker, particularly his jacket and glove, but he doesn’t seem to match him physically or vocally, leading one to speculate if this is another misdirection by the game creators.
In summary, the PlayStation Blog highlights that the game Requiem emphasizes survival horror at its core, yet offers intense cinematic action that could steer the series towards uncharted territory. This makes me envision the theme of “escaping” within the gameplay mechanics, something new for the series. Rest assured, it’s a single-player title, and concerns about extraction mechanisms are unwarranted. Further details will be shared at Gamescom where the game is playable. The “9” in Requiem instead raises more questions as we approach its release.
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2025-06-10 16:11