OSAKA, Japan — Capcom has officially pulled back the curtain on its most ambitious survival horror project to date: Resident Evil Requiem. In a massive information drop following the latest Resident Evil Showcase, the developer released a deluge of footage, screenshots, and technical details that confirm the game’s shift toward a dual-protagonist structure, innovative gameplay mechanics, and surprising high-end luxury partnerships with Porsche and Hamilton.
Scheduled for release on February 27, 2026, Resident Evil Requiem is set to bridge the gap between the franchise’s traditional survival horror roots and its modern action-heavy identity.
A Tale of Two Survivors: Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft
The narrative core of Requiem rests on two pillars: the legendary D.S.O. agent Leon S. Kennedy and a newcomer to the series, FBI technical analyst Grace Ashcroft. While previous entries like Resident Evil 2 offered separate campaigns for different characters, Requiem weaves their stories together, requiring players to alternate between them to uncover the game’s central mystery.
Leon Kennedy: The Action Veteran
Leon returns as a battle-hardened veteran, and his gameplay reflects his decades of experience fighting bioterrorism. His segments are described as “action-oriented,” drawing heavy inspiration from the Resident Evil 4 Remake.
- Advanced Combat: Leon can parry incoming attacks using an all-new hatchet, which serves as both a defensive tool and a brutal melee weapon.
- Weapon Commandeering: In a first for the series, Leon can seize weapons from his enemies. Showcase footage showed Leon disarming a “Chainsaw Villager” type enemy and using the weapon to deliver an exhilarating finishing move.
- Strategic Dismemberment: Players can target specific limbs to stagger enemies, setting them up for Leon’s signature roundhouse kicks and finishers.
Grace Ashcroft: The Survival Specialist
In stark contrast, Grace Ashcroft represents a return to the “pure” survival horror of Resident Evil 7 and the original 1996 classic. Grace is not a combat specialist; she is a “bookworm” technical analyst who finds herself trapped in a zombie-infested sanatorium.
- Limited Resources: Grace’s inventory is severely restricted, forcing players to make life-or-death decisions about which items to carry.
- Infected Blood Crafting: Grace possesses a unique device that allows her to harvest blood from the infected to craft vital survival items and specialized ammunition.
- The “Requiem” Revolver: Her primary defense is a custom assault revolver named “Requiem.” It is immensely powerful but features extremely scarce ammunition, serving as a “last resort” weapon.
Gameplay Innovation: The Perspective Swap
One of the most talked-about features of Resident Evil Requiem is the ability to swap perspectives on the fly. Players can toggle between first-person (for deep immersion and psychological horror) and third-person (for dynamic action and environmental awareness) at any point during the game.
Director Koshi Nakanishi noted that while the game defaults to first-person for Grace’s tense exploration segments and third-person for Leon’s combat-heavy sequences, the choice is entirely in the player’s hands.
“Echoes of Life”: A New Kind of Zombie
Capcom is reinventing the series’ iconic undead with a mechanic referred to as “Residual Behaviors.” In Requiem, some zombies are not merely mindless shufflers; they are fixated on repetitive actions from their former lives.
- The Chef: A zombified cook who obsessively “prepares” food in a kitchen, oblivious to the player unless provoked.
- The Janitor: An undead custodian who endlessly polishes a mirror.
- The Singer: A zombie that continues to vocalize eerie, distorted melodies.
These behaviors aren’t just for atmosphere—they are tactical opportunities. Players can observe these patterns to sneak past enemies or set traps using the environment.
Luxury in the Apocalypse: Porsche and Hamilton
In an unexpected move, Capcom has partnered with global luxury brands to bring real-world products into the world of Resident Evil.
- The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: Leon Kennedy’s personal vehicle in the game is a custom-designed Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. Developed using advanced 3D printing technology, the vehicle is integral to several high-speed cinematic sequences.
- Hamilton Watches: Both Leon and Grace wear authentic Hamilton timepieces in the game. To celebrate the launch, Hamilton is releasing limited-edition real-world versions of these watches—the American Classic Pan Europ and the Khaki Field Auto Chrono—limited to just 2,000 units worldwide.
The Mystery of “Elpis”
The overarching plot revolves around the keyword “Elpis.” This enigmatic term connects the tragic death of Grace’s mother, Alyssa Ashcroft (a legacy character from Resident Evil Outbreak), to Leon’s current mission. As players navigate the ruined facilities and Midwestern landscapes, they must piece together how a failed Umbrella experiment from 30 years ago is reigniting a global threat.
Technical Specs and Accessibility
Capcom confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem will support GeForce NOW cloud gaming at launch, ensuring that players without high-end hardware can still experience the horror. PC players can look forward to NVIDIA DLSS 4 and path-tracing for industry-leading visuals.
The game also features a range of difficulty settings:
- Casual: Features aim assist and more forgiving health.
- Standard (Classic): Heightens tension by bringing back Ink Ribbons for saving during Grace’s segments, demanding careful planning and resource management.
Resident Evil Requiem arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on February 27, 2026.