Geoff Keighley truly pulled out all the stops at the conclusion of the Summer Game Fest opening show and revealed a significant highlight with Resident Evil 9. Not only are the title and initial narrative elements now disclosed, but also the launch date. We provide all the essential details you should know.
The Ashcrofts return
What is the title of Resident Evil 9? The title is Requiem. However, there won’t be any wordplay with the numeral in the title, unlike Resident EVIl: Biohazard and Resident Evil:VIllage.
When is it set to launch? Resident Evil 9: Requiem will hit the shelves on February 27, 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
Who will assume the lead role? Prior assumptions suggested that Leon S. Kennedy might return as the main character. However, the trailer heavily implies that you will step into the shoes of Grace Ashcroft in Requiem. Fans will already recognize her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, from the mixed-reviewed Resident Evil Outbreak.
The trailer depicts Grace, an FBI agent, probing into the enigmatic deaths of several individuals – comfortably from her office chair. That is until her moody boss assigns her a new task. She is to investigate the hotel where her mother was viciously murdered.
Returning to the origins
The trailer divulges little about the narrative, but it indicates a return to fundamentals. Not only is horror evidently back in the spotlight, but familiar locales from Raccoon City are also making a comeback. These consist of the mansion from the first installment and the police station from the second.
A tribute to a legendary scene: Anyone who has played the original Resident Evil 1, not the remaster, will recognize what is likely the most iconic scene in the entire game franchise. The long, narrow corridor on the ground floor, where a zombie dog leaps through the window, inducing a heart attack with the sound of breaking glass. You can view the image above in the article.
Not solely the familiar: Although the trailer indicates that nostalgia will have a role, it also showcases something novel. Not only are there fresh characters, but previously unseen mutations will also complicate your journey.
What’s the outlook: Since the trailer hasn’t presented any gameplay thus far, we remain uncertain if Resident Evil will revert to the third-person perspective.
What our expert weighs in: I’m pleased to see a return to the origins – both in the realm of horror and locations. While I truly enjoyed part 8, it didn’t feel like a genuine Resident Evil game to me. It seems that could change now. Especially since, considering the hotel backdrop, we’ll likely spend most of our time within a building again.
I’m also genuinely thrilled that they opted for a brand-new protagonist. The prior story was more or less concluded, providing Resident Evil an opportunity for a soft reboot. By referencing the initial games, there could even be a bridging of old and new fans.
The main question that lingers is how much action will be present. Will there be another shoot-’em-up frenzy like in part 6? Or will it focus on atmosphere like in part 7? We won’t have to wait long to discover. Nevertheless, it remains intriguing!
When Capcom showcased a brief video during the event where a developer indicated that we would have to wait a bit longer for Resident Evil, the GameStar editorial team was buzzing with excitement. We assumed that meant a few weeks, not merely a few minutes. Well, the Resident Evil team outsmarted us. That made the surprise at the end all the more enjoyable.
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