Get ready to mark your calendars because the highly anticipated Resident Evil 9, also known as Resident Evil Requiem, is officially arriving! With 2026 marking the 30th anniversary of Capcom’s legendary survival horror series, this new installment is poised to honor its roots while forging a terrifying path forward. The shocking reveal at Summer Game Fest has sent ripples through the gaming community, and we’ve gathered all the crucial details for you.
A mysterious reveal trailer, though short, gave us a glimpse into the broad strokes of Requiem’s narrative. While actual gameplay was absent, the footage appeared to be running in-engine, suggesting a visual quality akin to the Resident Evil Village announcement.
Resident Evil Requiem Release Date
The Resident Evil 9 release date is set for Friday, February 27, 2026. Players can experience the horror on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch 2.
The official confirmation came during Summer Game Fest with a surprising reveal trailer. Host Geoff Keighley expressed his awe at Capcom’s ambitious vision for the project, hinting at its grand scale and scope.
Resident Evil 9 Trailers
The initial RE9 reveal trailer offered a compelling, albeit brief, look at the game. While it focused on story hints rather than gameplay, the in-engine footage showcased impressive visuals, reminiscent of earlier Resident Evil announcements that later led to full gameplay reveals.
A later world premiere trailer, spanning four minutes at Gamescom 2025, presented an expositional cutscene detailing the relationship between Grace Ashcroft and her mother. This sequence seamlessly transitioned into gameplay, showing Alyssa’s final moments as they attempted to escape an unknown threat.
During a developer interview at the Future Games Show, producer Masato Kumazawa discussed Grace’s ‘introverted and fearful character,’ noting it as an ‘unusual’ trait for a series protagonist. The interview also featured a demonstration of RE9’s dynamic shift between third-person and first-person perspectives.
The Capcom Online Program further teased RE9 Requiem ahead of Tokyo Game Show 2025, providing a quick overview of the dual-camera perspective and a sneak peek at demo footage that was later made available for public access. The content of this video showed a dark, eerie environment with shadows and a sense of dread.
Resident Evil 9 Characters
Our new protagonist is Grace Ashcroft, an FBI technical analyst and the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a survivor from Resident Evil Outbreak. Alyssa, an investigative reporter, was instrumental in exposing Umbrella’s bio-organic weapons testing, leading to the Raccoon Trials that ultimately brought the corporation down.
Grace is drawn into a new mystery, following in her mother’s footsteps to the Wrenwood Hotel, where Alyssa was supposedly murdered during an investigation. However, the Resident Evil universe is no stranger to characters returning from the dead – think Wesker, Ada, or Krauser – so a definitive end for Alyssa isn’t certain.
Introducing modern audiences to Alyssa Ashcroft could potentially pave the way for a Resident Evil Outbreak remake. While Outbreak featured co-op, its online functionality was limited. It’s improbable that Requiem will include dedicated co-op, but it’s expected to build upon companion AI seen with characters like Ashley, Carlos, and Jill.
The reveal trailer includes various character voice lines, indicating that Grace won’t be alone. Some fans even believe they recognize the voices of Leon, Jill, Carlos, and Chris. Leon Kennedy, a character deeply tied to Raccoon City, is rumored to play a significant, possibly final, role in Requiem. An insider suggests RE9 will be Leon’s ‘last major role in the timeline,’ serving as his ‘send-off game.’ This image depicts a zombie in a Raccoon City police uniform, hinting at familiar horrors.
Another image shows the facade of the Raccoon City police department in its present-day, bomb-gutted state, highlighting the return to this iconic setting.
Resident Evil 9 Story
Many fans might recall Raccoon City being obliterated at the end of Resident Evil 3. However, the game’s writer clarified that it was an experimental thermobaric bomb, not a nuclear one. This explanation allows Grace to explore the cratered remnants of Raccoon City without needing a Geiger counter.
It remains unconfirmed if the Wrenwood Hotel, Grace’s initial investigation site, is within Raccoon City’s vicinity. Nevertheless, its dilapidated state suggests a blend of the unsettling atmospheres from RE7’s Baker house and Silent Hill 2’s Wood Side Apartments. Expect plenty of frights as Grace confronts Resident Evil’s classic hordes of zombies for the first time.
The central mystery of RE9 revolves around a hooded man featured in the reveal trailer, likely the main antagonist. While speculation about Albert Wesker’s return is exciting, it’s highly improbable. A scene depicting Grace strapped to a gurney, with blood being drawn, implies her captor possesses medical knowledge, an interest in her survival, and a need for her blood. This image shows the presumed villain, a man in a high-back armchair in the Wrenwood Hotel.
Given that Grace’s mother was T-Virus infected and cured, it’s possible Grace inherited viral traces, similar to Rose Winters in RE Village. The mysterious man’s reference to Grace as the ‘chosen one’ further suggests her unique importance. He could be an Outbreak survivor seeking a cure, or perhaps even Oswell E. Spencer, despite Wesker’s supposed demise. As the saying goes, a megalomaniacal bio-terrorist is hard to keep down.
While some experts express skepticism about Requiem adopting the ‘playful, horror-movie-double-bill tone of the originals,’ there’s hope that Capcom won’t stray too far into self-seriousness. The trailer’s emphasis on an ‘unidentified disease’ and the Progenitor Virus as a form of bio-terrorism could shift the focus from traditional zombie combat. Regardless, if Requiem delivers more than just Raccoon City nostalgia, it promises to be a thrilling experience.
Resident Evil 9 Gameplay
Despite the reveal trailer being light on gameplay, Resident Evil’s core formula is well-established, and significant deviations are not expected. Fans can anticipate familiar elements like intense inventory management, challenging puzzles, and speedrun potential.
A 20-minute gameplay preview at Summer Game Fest, described by Jamie, provided insight into Requiem’s mechanics. While largely in first-person, a ‘surprise mic-drop moment’ confirmed an optional third-person mode, allowing players to switch perspectives at any time.
The preview also showcased an ogre-like woman stalking Grace through a house. Jamie noted, ‘There’s not much in the way of fighting back.’ Grace, an FBI agent, is capable with a firearm, but it seems she’ll primarily rely on ‘cunning, perseverance, and the ability to run faster than whatever terrifying creature is pursuing her.’ Brace yourself for plenty of jumpscares. This image shows a mutant crawling from the ceiling in a hotel corridor.
Danielle’s Gamescom preview explored a short demo, positioning Requiem as a ‘loving ode to Resident Evil’s past.’ This segment, possibly set in a Spencer Mansion-like building, highlighted a ‘return of Resi’s horror and puzzle origins.’ It also introduced Grace Ashcroft as a promising protagonist, ‘perfectly placed to join the likes of Jill, Ada, and Claire.’ An image shows Grace Ashcroft navigating a dingy room with a lighter, emphasizing the demo’s atmospheric horror.
In a close call, game director Koshi Nakanishi revealed that RE9 almost became a live-service open-world game. ‘We spent some time experimenting,’ he explained in a Capcom Spotlight, ‘We realized it wasn’t what fans wanted to see or play.’ Given Capcom’s past multiplayer attempts, this decision is widely applauded.
For PC enthusiasts, Gamescom confirmed RE9 path tracing and DLSS 4 support, promising stunning visuals for those with high-spec rigs.
Before Resident Evil 9 arrives, you can dive into some of our favorite zombie games or explore a complete list of the best PC games to keep yourself occupied.