Resident Evil Requiem was teased midway through Summer Game Fest before ultimately being revealed at the end of the show. This memorable moment left fans excited and proved to be the biggest highlight of the entire showcase.
During Summer Game Fest Play Days, I attended a behind-closed-doors first look preview event for the highly anticipated title. After seeing gameplay captured directly on PS5 Pro, I’m more than convinced that Requiem will elevate the core Resident Evil experience to the next level. Here are my thoughts on the demo and why the excitement is justified.
Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth main installment in the series. Directed by Koshi Nakanishi, Requiem follows FBI Technical Analyst Grace Ashcroft as she investigates several mysterious deaths at the Wrenwood Hotel, the same place where her mother died 8 years ago. The game takes place in Raccoon City after the massive destruction incident in Resident Evil 2. While rumors have suggested that Leon Kennedy and others are in Requiem, Capcom is keeping everything under wraps now with no confirmation or denial that the rumors could be true.
The demo opened with the same cinematic scene as in the trailer of Grace hanging upside down while tied to a hospital bed. After managing to get free, there was a shift to first-person gameplay as we started to see the dark, mysterious hotel through Grace’s eyes. Capcom mentioned that Requiem‘s central theme is Unpredictable Fear and that Grace will have to overcome her fears to survive. While she knows how to use a gun, her fear will put her in scenarios where she has to focus on survival instead of engaging in combat.
As the demo continued, we got a glimpse of just how impressive the visual presentation will be. Walking through the dark corridors of the hotel, you can feel the unsettling nature of the atmosphere and the fear that you can be attacked or frightened at any given moment. The level of detail displayed with lights and darks is insane and makes you feel like you are there with Grace, trembling with uncertainty about what’s ahead.
This painstaking attention to detail also extends to the items and objects you come across while exploring the hotel. In true Resident Evil fashion, there will be puzzles that require finding important items to progress in the storyline. The examples shown in the demo included the need to find a fuse to restore power and a key to open a specific door. Grace also acquires a lighter, which she uses as a resource while walking through her surroundings.
The demo then got considerably more frightening when Grace encountered the same creature that was seen at the end of the announcement trailer. There is a cutscene where we can see the monster appear and rip the head off of a dead infected body. As the creature starts to walk towards Grace, you have to run away and try to find a place to hide.
Being chased by the creature was both exhilarating and scary. There was one moment when it busted through the wall, which reminded me of encounters I’ve had with Mr. X and Nemesis in the past. This creature also jumped through the ceiling, and you can hear movements above, which suggests it could also attack you from below.
After failing to escape, Grace is grabbed by the creature and bitten. Interestingly enough, the camera switched to third-person view when I was attacked, then shifted back to first-person. Eventually, Grace was killed by the creature, and the screen faded to black. Once again, the visuals looked incredible, and it’s great to see how Capcom continues to push the RE engine forward.
The demo ended with the surprise revelation that Resident Evil Requiem can be played in either first-person or third-person mode. Players will be able to switch between both modes by simply choosing one or the other in the options menu. This announcement legit made everyone in the room excited. It also made me wonder what other surprises Capcom has planned for this game. Luckily, we won’t have to wait too long now to find out.
Verdict So Far
While this first look demo was relatively short, it’s clear that Resident Evil Requiem is on track to be another bone-chilling blockbuster for Capcom. Stay tuned for more details in the months ahead, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the game in the comments below.
Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27th, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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