RE Requiem Doesn’t Look Like Classic Resident Evil, and That’s Okay

Resident Evil Requiem closed out Summer Game Fest with a massive bang, as Capcom finally revealed what’s in store next for the beloved horror series. A brand-new protagonist and a teased return to a now-destroyed Raccoon City makes Resident Evil Requiem an incredibly exciting promise.

Capcom faked out viewers early on during the Summer Game Fest broadcast, as the company made it seem as though the next Resident Evil game still wasn’t ready to be revealed. However, the finale of the event gave gamers a shock announcement, confirming that Resident Evil Requiem would be the new chapter’s title. On top of that, the trailer teased a spine-chilling story that embraces psychological horror. Resident Evil Requiem‘s psychological horror turn may be surprising for the series, but this shake-up may ultimately be the fresh take the franchise needs.

Resident Evil Requiem is Still Hiding One Major Ace Up its Sleeve

The recent reveal of Resident Evil Requiem confirmed a lot of pre-existing theories about the game, and one major character still needs to be shown.

Resident Evil Requiem is Embracing Pyschological Horror, Marking a Bold Change for the Series

Resident Evil’s Recent Era Has Been Defined by Experimentation

When Resident Evil 7 launched, it was a huge departure from past entries, as it was the first game to be from a first-person perspective. Starring Ethan Winters, a fresh and faceless protagonist, RE7 subverted expectations by not only being from a new perspective, but by also taking place in a more enclosed and claustrophobic setting than past entries. After that, RE Village continued the Winters saga, shaking things up even more. Between vampire-like enemies with Lady Dimitrescu, werewolves, and a shocking origin story for the Umbrella Corporation that brought everything full-circle, RE Village took this newfound experimentation several steps further. Resident Evil Requiem introduces its own new protagonist with Grace Ashcroft, and her role in the FBI promises an investigative journey filled with scares.

Resident Evil 7 director Koshi Nakanishi has returned to direct Resident Evil Requiem.

Resident Evil’s Big Swings Have Continued to Pay Off

Traditionally, Resident Evil has balanced action-packed moments with heart-stopping horror. Resident Evil Requiem might still boast plenty of these qualities, but based on the first trailer, it looks like Capcom is aiming for a more subtle approach that gets under players’ skin. Right now, it’s unclear how Resident Evil Requiem is connected to the rest of the franchise. The tease of a destroyed Raccoon City hints at the potential return of some fan-favorite characters, but it seems as though Grace may be in the driver’s seat, at least when it comes to the game’s psychological parts.

This may cause some worry for longtime fans who love Resident Evil‘s special blend of horror and action, but Capcom has proven with RE7 and RE Village that such risky changes can pay off incredibly well. With Nakanishi returning, major changes were to be expected, but leaning into psychological horror was a huge surprise.

Grace Ashcroft is the daughter of investigative reporter Alyssa Ashcroft, who was introduced in Resident Evil Outbreak.

Resident Evil Requiem Kicks 2026 Off With a Bang

After Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase, the 2026 calendar is finally starting to look a lot fuller than it did a few days ago. Resident Evil Requiem nailing down a Q1 release date is exciting, because that means it gets to enjoy plenty of time in the spotlight before GTA 6 makes its way into gamers’ libraries.

As the year continues, it will be interesting to see if Capcom releases any more information about Resident Evil Requiem. There are still hopes that longtime franchise leads like Jill and Leon will return, but right now, Grace Ashcroft looks to be a compelling choice to lead a psychologically heavy story.