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Resident Evil Requiem is Capcom’s ninth mainline Resident Evil survival-horror game. It follows FBI intelligence analyst Grace Ashcroft and veteran agent Leon S. Kennedy as separate investigations lead back to the Raccoon City Incident and Umbrella’s legacy. Capcom says the game is designed for newcomers, so you can start here without completing earlier entries; returning players will recognize the setting, Leon, and Grace’s family connection.

Released on February 27, 2026, Requiem is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with Nintendo Switch 2 added to the launch platform lineup. Grace and Leon have deliberately different gameplay loops, but both can be played entirely in first-person or third-person view.

What is Resident Evil Requiem about?

The story begins when a body is discovered at an abandoned hotel in the Midwest during a mysterious series of deaths. FBI intelligence analyst Grace Ashcroft is assigned to investigate the hotel because her mother was murdered there eight years earlier. Veteran agent Leon S. Kennedy is sent to the same wider case after a police officer goes missing.

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Their investigations eventually converge as they examine connections to the Raccoon City Incident. That setup gives Requiem two entry points: Grace’s case is personal and investigative, while Leon brings the experience of a field agent who has already survived a major bioweapon disaster. The game returns to the broader narrative surrounding Raccoon City and the secret activities of the Umbrella Corporation, according to producer Masato Kumazawa.

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Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5
  • Amazon Exclusive - 2 sided poster included in every game!
  • Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
  • For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
  • An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
  • Pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem are now open, with the bonus of Grace’s costume: Apocalypse. Please note that the picture weapon does not come with the costume, but it can be obtained in-game.

Capcom uses the phrase “ninth mainline” installment for Requiem. That classification distinguishes it from remakes, spin-offs, and side entries; it does not mean you must play all eight earlier numbered games first.

Who is Grace Ashcroft?

Grace is an FBI intelligence analyst investigating the abandoned hotel where her mother died. She is Alyssa Ashcroft’s daughter, which gives her a direct family link to the events surrounding Raccoon City.

Official character information identifies Alyssa as a Raccoon City survivor who worked as a reporter and continued investigating Umbrella after the outbreak. Alyssa’s history is also connected to the Ashcroft family stories explored in the Resident Evil Outbreak games. Requiem uses that background as context for Grace’s motivation, but the confirmed material does not establish every detail of Alyssa’s role in the new investigation.

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Grace is not presented as a fully equipped action hero. Her sections emphasize vulnerability, scarce supplies, and decisions about whether to confront an infected threat or avoid it. She can craft ammunition, items, and one-hit injectors using infected blood, making resource management part of her character identity rather than a cosmetic difference between protagonists.

Is Leon in Resident Evil Requiem?

Yes. Leon S. Kennedy is one of the two playable protagonists. He is described as a Raccoon City survivor and a seasoned agent of the Division of Security Operations (DSO). In the story, he is dispatched after a police officer goes missing and eventually crosses paths with Grace’s investigation.

Leon’s presence connects Requiem to the series’ established Raccoon City storyline, but the game is not described as a simple retelling of an earlier Leon campaign. His chapters have their own action-focused rhythm, equipment, and combat systems.

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Resident Evil Requiem | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X|S Digital
  • A NEW ERA OF SURVIVAL HORROR — Experience the ninth mainline Resident Evil adventure, blending terrifying survival horror with pulse-pounding action in an immersive new chapter.
  • TWO INTERTWINED JOURNEYS — Experience the story through FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy, each bringing a distinct gameplay style to the nightmare.
  • SURVIVE AS GRACE ASHCROFT — Step into terrifying survival horror as FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft faces deadly threats and fights to escape death.
  • TAKE ACTION AS LEON S. KENNEDY — Dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy as the two protagonists’ journeys collide.
  • RETURN TO RESIDENT EVIL — Enter the latest mainline chapter of Capcom’s iconic survival horror series for a chilling experience built around fear, tension, and action.

What are the confirmed story connections?

Several links are officially established:

  • Grace Ashcroft is Alyssa Ashcroft’s daughter.
  • Alyssa survived the Raccoon City Incident, became a reporter, and investigated Umbrella afterward.
  • Leon is also a survivor of the Raccoon City Incident and now works as a DSO agent.
  • The new investigation leads back to Raccoon City and the wider Umbrella narrative.
  • Grace’s hotel assignment is tied to her mother’s murder eight years earlier.

Those facts support a clear continuity link without revealing the game’s later twists. Unverified leaks, supposed plot summaries, and fan theories should not be treated as story confirmation. The official information does not establish every returning character, the complete cause of the deaths, or the exact sequence connecting the hotel to Raccoon City.

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Do I need to play the earlier Resident Evil games?

No. Director Koshi Nakanishi says, “The game is designed to be welcoming to complete newcomers who don’t know anything about the Raccoon City Incident or haven’t played any Resident Evil titles before.” That makes Requiem a reasonable starting point if you want a current survival-horror game rather than a chronological project.

Earlier games can add context, but they are optional preparation. If you want more background before starting, choose based on the character or thread you want to understand:

  • Resident Evil 2: useful background for Leon’s first Raccoon City experience. Be precise about whether you play the original or the remake, because they are separate releases.
  • Resident Evil 3: additional context for the Raccoon City disaster and its timeline. The original and remake are different editions.
  • Resident Evil Outbreak: the most relevant optional reference for the Ashcroft family history and Alyssa’s connection to the outbreak-era stories.
  • Resident Evil 6: further context for Leon as an experienced agent, although it is not presented as a prerequisite for Requiem.

You can therefore play Requiem first, then return to older titles if Grace’s family history or Leon’s career makes you curious.

How are Grace and Leon’s gameplay different?

The campaign alternates between two distinct approaches instead of giving both characters the same equipment and encounter design.

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Character Primary gameplay emphasis Resources and systems Typical decision
Grace Ashcroft Vulnerability, evasion, and investigation Limited supplies; crafting items, ammunition, and one-hit injectors from infected blood Decide whether to fight, hide, or flee when resources are tight
Leon S. Kennedy Armed combat and tactical action Firearms, melee attacks, parries, enemy weapons, an attaché case, and customizable weapon parts Use weapons and close-quarters skills to control an encounter

Grace’s loop: scarcity and risk

Grace’s sections ask you to make every resource count. Limited supplies make avoidance a valid choice, and crafting lets you convert materials into tools for survival. The one-hit injectors made from infected blood are especially important because they reinforce the game’s emphasis on improvised survival rather than dependable firepower.

Rank #3
Resident Evil Requiem | Deluxe Edition | XBOX Series X|S Digital
  • DELUXE EDITION CONTENT — Includes the full game plus five costumes, four weapon skins, two screen filters, two charms, the Raccoon City Classic Audio Pack, and Letters from 1998.
  • A NEW ERA OF SURVIVAL HORROR — Experience the ninth mainline Resident Evil adventure, blending terrifying survival horror with pulse-pounding action in an immersive new chapter.
  • TWO INTERTWINED JOURNEYS — Experience the story through FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy, each bringing a distinct gameplay style to the nightmare.
  • SURVIVE AS GRACE ASHCROFT — Step into terrifying survival horror as FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft faces deadly threats and fights to escape death.
  • TAKE ACTION AS LEON S. KENNEDY — Dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy as the two protagonists’ journeys collide.

Her gameplay is therefore less about clearing every room and more about reading danger, preserving ammunition, and choosing when a fight is worth the cost. The available descriptions establish that pressure, but they do not promise that every encounter can be bypassed.

Leon’s loop: weapons and counterattacks

Leon’s chapters are built around a more capable combatant. He can use firearms and melee attacks, parry incoming threats, take advantage of enemy weapons, and organize equipment in an attaché case. Customizable weapon parts add another layer to how his arsenal is configured.

That does not make Leon’s sections risk-free. It means the tension comes from positioning, timing, weapon choice, and managing an expanded combat toolkit rather than Grace’s severe scarcity.

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Can I play Resident Evil Requiem in third person?

Yes. Both Grace and Leon support first-person and third-person perspectives. You are not restricted to first person for one character and third person for the other.

Producer Masato Kumazawa says Capcom included both views because players have different preferences. The choice affects more than the camera: animation, balance, interface design, and sound design must all work in both perspectives. As a result, switching views is a meaningful presentation and gameplay option, not simply a cosmetic toggle.

Do actions carry between Grace and Leon?

Some actions persist when the protagonists later share locations. Director Koshi Nakanishi gives two examples: enemies killed by Grace remain dead for Leon, and items left on the ground remain available to him.

Rank #4
Requiem for Resident Evil by Capcom
  • Platform: Xbox Series X
  • Genre: Action - Horror
  • Condition: New and Sealed
  • Edition: Standard

This creates continuity between their campaigns, but it should not be read as a guarantee that every action, room, or location is shared. The confirmed detail is limited to the persistence of certain enemy and item states in shared areas.

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How scary is Requiem?

Nakanishi describes the game this way: “Overall, this game may be scarier than Resident Evil Village, but it alternates between tension and relief, so it isn’t a continuous, suffocating experience.” That points to a deliberate rhythm rather than nonstop intensity.

Grace’s scarcity-focused chapters are likely to create pressure through uncertainty and limited options, while Leon’s combat sections provide more opportunities to respond actively. The contrast between them helps explain how the game can sustain horror without keeping every scene at maximum stress.

What engine and technology does it use?

Capcom’s June 2025 release announcement says Requiem uses the RE ENGINE. The announcement identifies the engine but does not, by itself, establish platform-specific performance targets or identical visual settings across systems.

What platforms is Resident Evil Requiem on?

Platform Availability
PlayStation 5 Released February 27, 2026
Xbox Series X|S Released February 27, 2026
PC Released February 27, 2026
Nintendo Switch 2 Added to the launch platform lineup by Capcom

The listed platforms are current-generation systems. The verified platform information does not include PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or the original Nintendo Switch.

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Which edition should I buy?

The official PlayStation storefront lists Standard and Deluxe editions, along with a demo listing. Prices, stock, regional entitlements, and edition contents can change, so check the store for your country and platform immediately before purchasing.

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Resident Evil™ Requiem Deluxe Edition Steelbook - [Nintendo Switch 2]
  • Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth title in the Resident Evil main series. Prepare to escape death in this breathtaking experience that will shake you to the core.
  • A new era of survival horror begins in 2026. Technological advancement combined with the vast experience of the development team in combining stories with finely crafted characters and gameplay ensure a more immersive experience than ever before.
  • Experience the classic survival horror of the series through combat, investigation, puzzles, and resource management. The gameplay allows you to freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives and experience the horror from the angle that best suits your playing style.
  • It all begins when a corpse--the victim of an unknown disease--is found in an abandoned hotel. Grace Ashcroft, crime analyst at the FBI, is commissioned with the investigation. But the location of the corpse is exactly the place where her mother died eight years ago.
  • Nervous of being confronted with her past, Grace sets out for the hotel. As it turns out, the case is linked to the truth behind the misfortune of Raccoon City, the biological catastophile that once shocked the world. Is this chapter finally drawn a final line?

For PC players, Capcom Town Store announced Steam availability on April 17, 2026. That announcement confirms a Steam listing at that time; it does not establish a universal price or guarantee that every regional storefront displays identical terms.

Before paying, verify four details:

  1. Choose the correct platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, or Nintendo Switch 2.
  2. Confirm whether the listing is Standard or Deluxe and read the included content in your region.
  3. Check whether you are buying a digital license or a physical copy.
  4. Review the current local price, availability, and any demo or bonus conditions on the live store page.

Has Requiem received additional content?

Capcom announced on March 16, 2026, that Resident Evil Requiem had sold more than 6 million units and that additional game content was planned. The announcement did not provide a detailed description or release date, so it should not be labeled as confirmed story DLC or assigned a launch window.

For scale, Capcom reported more than 170 million Resident Evil game units sold worldwide as of March 31, 2025, and later reported more than 183 million as of December 31, 2025. Those are cumulative franchise figures, not Requiem sales.

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Is Resident Evil Requiem a good starting point?

Yes, if you want a current Resident Evil entry with an officially newcomer-friendly structure. You can follow the central investigation without knowing the complete history of Raccoon City, while returning fans have recognizable anchors in Leon, Alyssa, Umbrella, and the series’ broader continuity.

Choose Grace’s chapters when you want resource pressure, crafting, and the possibility that avoiding a threat is wiser than spending ammunition. Choose Leon’s chapters when you prefer firearms, melee combat, parries, enemy weapons, and equipment customization. Since both characters support first- and third-person play, camera preference does not require choosing one protagonist over the other.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5
Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5
Amazon Exclusive - 2 sided poster included in every game!
$69.99
Bestseller No. 4
Requiem for Resident Evil by Capcom
Requiem for Resident Evil by Capcom
Platform: Xbox Series X; Genre: Action - Horror; Condition: New and Sealed; Edition: Standard

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