Capcom unveiled fresh gameplay for Resident Evil Requiem during Thursday’s Resident Evil Showcase, confirming the franchise’s iconic undead are returning with unsettling new behaviors.
At a Glance
- Zombies return after a long absence, mimicking routines from their human lives
- Game launches Feb. 27 on PC, PS5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series for $70
- Players alternate between FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and veteran agent Leon Kennedy
- Standard (Classic) difficulty revives ink-ribbon saves from the original trilogy
The broadcast revealed that these revived corpses no longer shuffle aimlessly; they cling to habits held before infection. A zombified custodian continues pushing a mop, offering players a chance to slip past while the creature clings to its former chore.
Release Date and Editions
Resident Evil Requiem arrives on February 27, 2025, priced at $70 across PC, PS5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series consoles.
Capcom will also ship a Deluxe Steelbook Edition for $90 that bundles:
- Five bonus costumes
- Four weapon skins
- Two screen filters
- Two weapon charms
- Bonus audio tracks
- In-game lore files
- Lenticular collector card
- Steelbook case
- Extra Grace costume for pre-orders
Switch 2 newcomers can grab the Resident Evil Generation pack on launch day; it includes Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village and all previously released DLC for both titles. A themed Pro Controller sporting Resident Evil artwork will sell for $100, and Capcom’s first-ever Resident Evil amiibo is scheduled for summer 2025.
Setting and Timeline
The story unfolds 30 years after Raccoon City’s destruction, placing events well past Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The destroyed metropolis serves as a backdrop for a fresh outbreak, drawing FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft back to the infamous location.
Dual Protagonists, Two Play Styles
Gameplay splits between Grace and Leon Kennedy, each offering distinct mechanics:
- Grace, physically weaker, wields the high-powered Requiem firearm and can craft tools from infected blood. Ammunition scarcity amplifies survival-horror tension.
- Leon, familiar to fans of Resident Evil 4, retains his melee combos and can brandish a chainsaw against crowds.
Character selection is story-driven; players must complete the campaign as both agents. A new difficulty system tailors challenge:
- Casual – story-focused, forgiving combat
- Standard – traditional Resident Evil balance
- Standard (Classic) – introduces ink ribbons for saving at typewriters, echoing the 1996 original
Meet Grace Ashcroft
Grace, an FBI analyst, carries personal ties to Raccoon City. Her mother Alyssa, a reporter and playable character in 2003’s Resident Evil Outbreak, survived the city’s initial destruction only to be murdered in 2018 by a masked assailant. The unsolved killing propels Grace into federal service.
In Requiem, Grace investigates a string of mysterious deaths leading her to Wrenwood Hotel, the site of her mother’s homicide and the latest casualty. Evidence points toward a resurgent bioweapon, forcing Grace to revisit the ruins of Raccoon City.
Leon Kennedy’s Mission
Leon last appeared in Resident Evil 6 but remained active in animated features including Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, Infinite Darkness and Death Island. Now a Division of Security Operations agent, Leon circles the globe responding to bioweapon incidents, often teaming with series veterans Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers.
Potential Returning Faces
A GameStop listing spotted by Videogame Chronicles advertises an Expansion Pass featuring extra scenarios. One add-on, the Shadow Walker Costume Pack, outfits Rosemary Winters, daughter of Ethan Winters and protagonist of Resident Evil Village’s Shadows of Rose DLC. Additional characters may surface as the February launch approaches.
Key Takeaways
- Classic zombies re-enter the spotlight, exhibiting eerily human routines
- February 27 multiplatform release targets the franchise’s 30th anniversary in 2026
- Dual-protagonist structure blends fresh survival mechanics with familiar action
- Collector editions and Switch 2 peripherals cater to longtime fans
