Resident Evil Requiem is just over a month away from its highly anticipated release, and following the recent showcase event, we have even more reasons to be hyped.
Resident Evil Requiem is the latest entry in Capcom’s survival horror series, which has been keeping its legion of fans entertained since it was first introduced on the original PlayStation in 1996.
As a Resident Evil fan since the very beginning, I think it’s fair to say that the series has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years. Thankfully, I think the good easily outweighs the bad, and the series is most certainly back on track, especially following 2017’s Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
During last night’s Resident Evil Showcase event, we saw plenty of new high-octane gameplay featuring the two main protagonists.
We saw Grace Ashcroft, a new character to the series, who is an FBI agent and the daughter of the news reporter, Alyssa Ashcroft, from Resident Evil Outbreak.
Then we have the series veteran, Leon S. Kennedy, who returns to Raccoon City for the first time in 30 years (at least in the mainline series) since the US government dropped a bomb on it, in an attempt to cover up the T-Virus outbreak caused by the sinister pharmaceutical company, Umbrella.
The recent Resident Evil Showcase only lasted just under 13 minutes, but other than the two statues of Leon and Grace, I’m here to talk about what has me extra hyped from the game itself coming out of the event.
Leon’s Mysterious Infection Confirmed!
We saw glimpses of Leon’s suspected infection in previous trailers, with some sort of marking on his neck. Then, promotional material at the Tokyo Game Show connected the suspected dots of fans’ theories.
In Resident Evil Requiem, there’s a secret called “Elpsis”, which comes from the Greek goddess associated with Pandora’s Box, which traps evil. If Pandora’s Box is opened, it’s practically game over for the world. In the game, it’s related to a secret US government project.
Elpsis is connected to the death of Grace’s mother, and by the looks of it, may be related to Leon’s infection. With Alyssa once being a news reporter, it’s probably safe to assume that she uncovered something that put her life in danger. Not much is still known about the infection, despite Capcom confirming it at the showcase; details are being kept under wraps.
Resident Evil Requiem Could Have the Most Brutal Gameplay!
We saw more of Grace’s and Leon’s gameplay segments. We already knew that Grace is pretty much useless in combat, and she’ll be relying on stealth to survive in Raccoon City. That being said, another fan theory looks to have been confirmed, with new gameplay that appears to show Grace using Leon’s revolver to kill enemies. Grace’s segments looked to be more slow-paced and intense, comparable to Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
As for Leon, he’s a badass veteran who is no stranger to slaying zombies and other horrific mutants. In the new gameplay, we saw more of Leon one-shot killing zombies with his hand cannon, splatting heads against the wall and close-up gunshots to the mouth. Hopefully, he’ll also be landing an added suplex or two. By the looks of things, Leon could offer some of the most brutal and over-the-top action yet, especially as he can now pick up and use a chainsaw. Leon’s segments are being compared to a more seasoned version of what we saw in Resident Evil 4.
Zombies Still Act Like Humans (Kinda)
During the showcase, we learned that Zombies in Resident Evil Requiem are quite different to those that we have encountered before. Zombies still have traces of their human-selves before they were infected. For example, we saw a female zombie, once a cleaner, trying to cleanse the bathroom of her former employer.
While others may mutter to themselves and try to perform past everyday routines. This makes the zombies feel somewhat human, and before you put a bullet in its brain as it aggressively shuffles towards you, it might make you think about who they used to be. Which is a fantastic added layer of immersion.
A New Crafting System
Rather than finding resources that can craft ammo, health items and whatnot, as we’ve seen in previous games, Resident Evil Requiem will introduce a new mechanic to the series. To craft “specialised injectors”, you’ll need to take blood samples from infected/mutated enemies. Samples can be taken from downed enemies, and one of those injectors looks like it can make zombies explode. I can’t wait to try this in the game!
Resident Evil 6 Is Still Recognised as Canon
I know this isn’t a mechanic, and it shouldn’t be much of a surprise. But Resident Evil 6 is widely considered to be one of the worst entries in the series and a game that many might pretend never existed. However, it does have an awesome Mercenaries mode, so I will give it that.
Leon in Resident Evil Requiem is referred to as “post-Resident Evil 6” and is still a DSO agent (Division of Security Operations) for the US government, and is continuing to fight against bioterrorism organisations.
Huge New Enemy That Reminds Me Resident Evil Village
At the very end of the showcase, we saw a huge mutated zombie-like creature crashing through a door and down a hallway after Grace. Unnervingly, it yells at Grace, “We won’t forgive you”. Did she do something to this creature before it became this way? Only time will tell. This creature reminds me of that horrific baby from Resident Evil Village.
Resident Evil Requiem will be released on 27 February 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.
