Return to Raccoon City: What Was Shown in the Resident Evil Requiem Trailer

At the Summer Game Fest, the debut trailer for Resident Evil 9, subtitled Requiem, was finally presented. The trailer was shown at the very end of the showcase — just half an hour earlier, Capcom had cheekily told viewers not to expect any news about the game that night. Classic Capcom humor. In any case, let’s dive into what the trailer revealed and what we know about the project so far.

The trailer introduces a new character — an FBI agent named Grace Ashcroft. If her surname sounds familiar, you’ve probably been following the series for a long time: Grace is the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft. Her mother worked as a reporter for The Raccoon Press and was one of the few survivors of the Raccoon City zombie outbreak. Alyssa appeared in the spin-offs Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2.

Judging by the trailer, Grace investigates deaths linked to bioweapons or viruses. At one point, her concerned boss asks her to take on another murder case. The problem? She’ll have to go to the hotel where her mother once died. The mere thought of it triggers a panic attack in young Ashcroft.

The video also shows a mysterious new villain. His identity remains unknown, but he seems particularly interested in Grace, calling her the chosen one he’s long been seeking. It appears this same man is conducting experiments on Grace — as seen midway through the trailer.

There’s no official confirmation yet, but it’s safe to assume we’ll play as Grace in Resident Evil Requiem. Otherwise, it would be odd to feature her so prominently in the debut trailer and on its key art.

Before Resident Evil Requiem was announced, rumors suggested that fan-favorite Leon Kennedy would once again take the lead role. Officially, there’s no word on his presence in the game — nor does he appear in the trailer. Still, it’s too early to rule him out. Leon may well feature as a major protagonist — perhaps one of two — which aligns with early reports that the game will let players control multiple characters. Some of the locations shown in the trailer also hold special significance for Leon’s past.

One of the biggest surprises in the trailer: Resident Evil Requiem brings us back to Raccoon City, which was destroyed by a powerful strike at the end of Resident Evil 3. It looks like players may even revisit the iconic police station from Resident Evil 2. Visually battered as it may be, it’s unmistakable.

The trailer also teases locations in a Victorian, almost Gothic style. Could this be Spencer’s mansion from the first game? Or an entirely new area?

It’s immediately clear that Resident Evil Requiem runs on the same engine as recent entries — the RE Engine — evident from the detailed rendering of Grace’s hair alone. However, this version of the engine promises new graphical enhancements, hinted at by a mention of technological advancements in the game’s official description.

Fans of the classic games, rejoice: it looks like zombies will once again be among the enemies in Resident Evil Requiem. Overall, the tone of the trailer suggests this won’t be an action-heavy title like the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake, but a true survival horror experience. The official site even lists the genre as survival horror. Expect puzzles, complex level layouts, and tough gameplay where every bullet counts.

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Finally, the most important reveal — the release date. The game will launch on February 27, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox consoles. More details are expected this August at gamescom.

What do you think of the announcement? Share your thoughts in the comments.