Resident Evil Requiem Makes Good on a 23 Year Wait

Audiences finally got a good look at the next Resident Evil game, Resident Evil Requiem, during this year’s Summer Games Fest. Sadly, the reveal trailer consists solely of cinematics, not offering much insight into Resident Evil Requiem‘s gameplay or broader structural elements, but it at least shines a light on its narrative. Requiem will follow FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from 2004’s Resident Evil Outbreak, as she investigates a series of mysterious deaths in the hotel where her mother died eight years prior.

This positions Resident Evil Requiem as a significant step forward for the franchise, introducing a new hero and an ostensibly new conflict, removed from the plots of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village. But players can be sure to encounter at least one familiar concept: Raccoon City. The infamous ground zero will be the domain of this next game, although notable leaker Dusk Golem remains steadfast in their claims that Raccoon City won’t be the main setting of Requiem, nor will Grace be the main character. These points seem a bit dubious in light of Requiem‘s reveal trailer, which also contradicts some of Dusk Golem’s previous leaks. But regardless, Raccoon City will ostensibly be featured in at least part of Resident Evil Requiem, which is a big deal.

resident evil requiem main playable characters

Resident Evil 9 Has At Least 2 Playable Characters, But There May Be a Third

The newly-revealed Resident Evil Requiem has at least two playable characters, but it’s possible that a surprise third one may be in the game as well.

Resident Evil Requiem Will Be Take Players Back To Raccoon City for the First Time in Over Two Decades

The Last Mainline Resident Evil Game To Take Place in Raccoon City Was Resident Evil Zero

Despite being such an important location for the franchise, Raccoon City hasn’t actually gotten much representation in recent years. Sure, it was featured in 2019’s Resident Evil 2 and 2020’s Resident Evil 3, but these are remakes, not wholly new games in the series. Similarly, while 2009’s The Darkside Chronicles has a chapter set in Raccoon City, which technically makes it the last time the metropolis was the setting of an RE game, it is a rail-shooter spin-off, not a mainline entry. Moreover, The Darkside Chronicles chapter in question is actually a retelling of Resident Evil 2‘s story, making its Raccoon City setting even less impactful.

Thus, the last time that Resident Evil actually visited Raccoon City in a non-spin-off, non-remake game was Resident Evil Zero, which focuses heavily on the Arklay Mountains just beyond the city’s borders. But Resident Evil Zero released in 2002, long before the technological and game design advancements of today, making it notably dated despite its graceful aging in certain respects. With Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom could reinvigorate its most famous locale.

Why Resident Evil Requiem’s Raccoon City Setting Matters

One of the best aspects of the Resident Evil franchise is the diversity of its chosen settings. The series has taken players all over the world, pitting them against zombies in Africa, Spain, Louisiana, and even international waters. But the long-running evolution of the series adds an interesting dimension to these myriad settings, as they play a different role depending on the era of the series. For instance, the Raccoon City Police Department of the original Resident Evil 2 feels remarkably different to explore than the Baker residence of Resident Evil 7, mostly as a result of changing tech and game design trends.

With luck, these modernizations will make Resident Evil Requiem‘s rendition of Raccoon City a breath of fresh air. It’s not clear how much of Raccoon City will be explorable, but if there’s any credence to the rumors about Resident Evil 9 being open-world, then it’s possible that the relationship between players and this iconic setting will be unlike anything the franchise has seen before.