Xbox Game Pass Is Adding the Perfect Horror Game Next Week

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As a gamer, I think Xbox Game Pass is seriously one of the best ways to discover new titles. It did just get a bit more expensive, which is a bummer, but Microsoft is constantly adding fresh games to the service. What I really appreciate is how they time things – they often add older games in a series right before the new one drops, so you can easily jump in and catch up if you’ve missed anything. They’re doing that with a new release next week, getting it on Game Pass about a month before the sequel comes out. And if you’re like me and want to get into the Resident Evil series, Game Pass is about to make it a lot easier!

The highly anticipated Resident Evil Requiem is scheduled to launch on February 27th, 2026. This new installment will return the series to the iconic Raccoon City after over ten years (excluding the remakes). To build excitement, Xbox is adding Resident Evil Village to Game Pass on January 20th. Released in 2021, Resident Evil Village is a great opportunity for players to experience or revisit the eighth main game in the series just before Requiem arrives.

What is Resident Evil Village?

As you may know, Village is the eighth main installment in the Resident Evil series. However, because of Resident Evil 0, which tells a story before the very first game, it’s sometimes considered the ninth. While many fans also recommend playing Code Veronica, the important thing is that Village continues the ongoing story of the Resident Evil universe.

It’s important to note that Village is different from previous Resident Evil games. With Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Capcom essentially refreshed the series, leaving out many of the familiar characters fans had come to know. Instead, they introduced a new main character named Ethan Winters.

Whether you like Ethan as a character or not (and a lot of fans have mixed feelings!), Resident Evil 7 and Village center around his experiences. You really need to play Resident Evil 7 first to fully understand the story of Village. Together, these two games tell the complete story of Ethan Winters, and they’re closely connected.

Notably, Village moves the Resident Evil series closer to an open-world experience. While not fully open for free exploration, its layout feels less restrictive than earlier games in the series. This is significant because Requiem appears to be pushing the series even further in that direction. This raises the question of whether playing Village is necessary before diving into Resident Evil Requiem.

Does Resident Evil Requiem Connect to Village?

It’s understandable to wonder if you should play Village before Requiem, especially if you’re short on time before February 27th. Village tells the story of Ethan Winters, and while I won’t give away any spoilers, it appears to conclude his storyline. Although death isn’t permanent in this series, Capcom seems to be focusing on new characters and narratives.

You might think playing the previous game, Village, isn’t necessary to enjoy Requiem. While that’s mostly correct, Requiem really dives into the history and events of all the earlier games in the series. One key character is Grace Ashcroft, who happens to be the daughter of Ashley Ashcroft.

If you’re not a big fan of the Resident Evil series, the name Ashley probably doesn’t mean much. She was a character in Resident Evil: Outbreak, an older online game for the PlayStation 2. With Capcom revisiting such old titles, it’s hard to predict what will be important in the upcoming Requiem.

So, at the end of Village, Chris Redfield basically says he’s heading to Europe to deal with this shady organization, the BSAA, because they’re up to no good. Now, Requiem is set in Raccoon City, which is, like, totally across the ocean from Europe. But honestly, I can’t see Capcom just ignoring that whole storyline they set up – they have to follow up on it, right?

You can likely enjoy Requiem even if you haven’t played Village, though you might miss a few details and references. If you’re short on time, it shouldn’t be a problem. However, I highly recommend playing Village, especially if you have Xbox Game Pass, as it’s one of the strongest entries in the series. Hopefully, Requiem will be just as good.

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2026-01-12 00:41