Geoff Keighley truly pulled out all the stops at the conclusion of the Summer Game Fest opening event, revealing a major highlight with Resident Evil 9. Not only are the title and initial plot details now available, but the launch date has also been disclosed. We present all the essential information you need to know.
The Ashcrofts return
What is the title of Resident Evil 9? The title is Requiem. However, there will be no clever twist with the numeral in the title, as seen in Resident EVIl: Biohazard and Resident Evil:VIllage.
When is it set to launch? Resident Evil 9: Requiem is scheduled for release on February 27, 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
Who is the main character? Prior speculation suggested that Leon S. Kennedy might be the lead character. However, the trailer heavily indicates that players will assume the role of Grace Ashcroft in Requiem. Fans should already recognize her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, from the mixed-reviewed Resident Evil Outbreak.
The trailer depicts Grace, an FBI agent, looking into the mysterious deaths of several individuals — all from the comfort of her office chair. That is, until her irritable boss assigns her a new task: to investigate the hotel where her mother was viciously murdered.
Returning to the origins
The trailer reveals little about the narrative, yet it convincingly indicates a return to fundamentals. Not only is horror seemingly back in focus, but familiar settings from Raccoon City are returning as well. These encompass the mansion from Part 1 and the police station featured in Part 2.
A nod to a legendary moment: Anyone who has experienced the original Resident Evil 1, not the remastered version, will recall what is arguably the most iconic scene in the entire franchise. The long, narrow corridor on the ground floor, where suddenly a zombie dog leaps through the window, creating a startling moment with the sound of breaking glass. The image can be found above in the article.
Beyond the familiar: While the trailer hints that nostalgia will be significant, it also introduces something fresh. Not only are there new characters, but previously unseen mutations are set to complicate matters for you.
What’s the future look like: As the trailer does not currently display any gameplay, it remains uncertain whether Resident Evil will revert to the third-person perspective.
What our expert shares: I’m thrilled to see a return to the roots — both in horror elements and settings. Although I thoroughly enjoyed part 8, it didn’t feel like a true Resident Evil game. It seems that could potentially change now. Especially since, given the hotel environment, we’ll likely be spending a considerable amount of time within a building again.
I’m also truly pleased that a completely new protagonist has been chosen. The prior storyline has essentially been concluded, granting Resident Evil the opportunity for a soft reboot. By referencing the earlier games, there could even be a bridge between younger and older fans.
The key question that remains is how much action will feature. Will there be another frenetic shooting spree like in part 6? Or will it focus more on atmosphere as in part 7? We won’t have to wait too long to find out. Still, it remains intriguing!
When Capcom presented a brief clip during the showcase in which a developer explained that we would need to wait a little longer for Resident Evil, the GlobalESportNews editorial team was buzzing with excitement. We assumed that meant a few weeks, not just a few minutes. Well, the Resident Evil team certainly caught us off guard. That made the reveal at the end that much more pleasurable.
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