Resident Evil Requiem was almost an open-world title with multiple protagonists, with another early build of the game featuring online co-op gameplay. One of the most highly anticipated horror games in recent memory, Resident Evil Requiem will take players back to Raccoon City in the franchise's ninth main entry when it's released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 27, 2026.
Summer Game Fest 2025 ended with a bang, as Resident Evil Requiem was the final game announcement during this year's presentation. In this new installment of the beloved survival horror series, players will step into the shoes of a brand-new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak's Alyssa Ashcroft. A nervous introvert, Alyssa will be tasked with exploring Raccoon City 30 years after a missile strike decimated the area while dealing with horrors beyond her comprehension. While the title marks a return to form for the Resident Evil franchise, it was almost a very different game altogether.
Resident Evil Requiem is Finally Diving into Uncharted Territory for the Franchise
With the next Resident Evil title revealed, RE Requiem looks to be exploring some horror ground that the series hasn't truly delved into yet.
Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi showed off some early in-development footage of the upcoming game during a recent development diary, and prospective players were shocked by what the title almost became. The team at Capcom experimented with several different gameplay systems, including potentially making Resident Evil Requiem an open-world game, an online co-op shooter, and a more action-oriented title. While these concepts were interesting to the developers, Nakanishi stated that they weren't "what fans wanted to see or play," with the title eventually transforming into what most fans of the franchise would expect. While Requiem will reportedly include more action than past titles, Nakanishi believes that it will satisfy those who have stuck with Resident Evil since the beginning.
Resident Evil Requiem Was Almost an Online Open-World Co-op Shooter
More information about the upcoming survival horror game was shared during this week's Resident Evil Requiem Capcom Spotlight broadcast, including why Leon S. Kennedy isn't the game's protagonist. While the development team had considered placing the popular character in the lead role, Nakanishi stated that Leon is a "bad match for horror," as he isn't the kind of character to jump at every little thing. Conversely, Grace scares easily, is inexperienced in many areas, and will need to face her fears in Requiem, making her a more suitable match.
While the game won't be released until early 2026, Resident Evil Requiem has already reached a huge milestone, with over one million prospective players adding it to their wishlists. The title will allow players to swap between first and third-person camera angles, and despite teasing early builds, Capcom promises to give fans what they want: a single-player, entirely offline horror experience.
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