Major spoilers ahead for Resident Evil Village and its Shadow of Rose DLC
Resident Evil Requiem is subverting expectations again. Just as RE7 and RE Village focused on a brand-new protagonist, Ethan Winters, Resident Evil Requiem is following in those footsteps with newcomer Grace Ashcroft. So far, all that is known about Grace is that she works for the FBI as a gifted technical analyst.
Grace already looks to be a promising lead, especially with Requiem's teased psychological leanings, but this fresh chapter leaves the open-ended nature of Village slightly disappointing, too, especially when it comes to the Shadows of Rose DLC. At the end of Village, it was revealed that Ethan has been dead the entire time, kept alive by the Mold. Between Ethan's infection and his wife Mia's exposure to the Mold, their daughter Rosemary ended up with full-blown superpowers, which are explored further in Shadows of Rose.
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Rosemary Winters Could Have Been the Testing Ground for More Superpowers in Resident Evil Requiem
Rosemary's Future in the Franchise Remains Uncertain
Shadows of Rose was a divisive expansion, but the introduction of super-human abilities was a major turning point for the series. With Rosemary under the care of Chris Redfield and the United States Government, she could potentially play a larger role in the story down the road. However, this remains to be seen, and as far as it's known, Requiem doesn't seem to pick up where Village left off.
A massive cliffhanger with such large implications is frustrating, but there is the possibility that super-powers may still play a role in Requiem's story, just not with Rose. Now that Mold-induced powers have been introduced to the franchises, there is potential for Grace to somehow gain these abilities. Grace still remains a huge mystery, but at first glance, her talents seem to be more based around intellectual prowess than physical strength. This works well for the game's teased psychological turn, but it could also lay the groundwork for Grace to become super-powered, so she can eventually gain the upper hand in combat.
Shadows of Rose was a divisive expansion, but the introduction of super-human abilities was a major turning point for the series.
On June 26, Capcom is hosting a showcase featuring some of its most popular franchises, and RE Requiem is expected to be part of the event.
How Could Grace Ashcroft Gain Powers Similar to Rosemary's?
There are still many questions about Grace and her background. In the first trailer, it was revealed that Grace is the daughter of RE Outbreak's Alyssa Ashcroft. Eight years prior to Requiem, Alyssa was murdered at the Wrenwood Hotel. It's unclear what Alyssa had been up to before her murder, but an RE7 Easter egg could be pointing to answers.
In RE7, a newspaper article written by Alyssa for The Dulvey Daily can be found discussing the disappearances of townsfolk in the area. While this is purely speculation, Alyssa could have come in contact with the Mold during her investigations, and it could have somehow unknowingly spread to Grace. This may be a stretch, but it's not entirely impossible. With RE7 and Requiem both being directed by Koshi Nakanishi, mentioning Alyssa in this way no longer seems like a small Easter egg.
Everything Known About RE Requiem, So Far
- Grace will be investigating a murder at the Wrenwood Hotel, the very place her mother met an untimely end.
- The game will revisit a destroyed Raccoon City post-outbreak.
- Players can switch between first and third-person mode.
- It will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 27, 2026.
As the wait for Requiem continues, Capcom is bound to share more information in the coming months. From speculation about a second playable protagonist to how Reqiuem plays into the overall franchise's story, this next chapter in the world of Resident Evil could have plenty of surprises up its sleeve.
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