Resident Evil 9 has been unveiled, revealing the setting, the protagonist, and the release date.
Geoff Keighley really went all out at the end of the Summer Game Fest opening show and unveiled a real highlight with Resident Evil 9. Not only are the name and first story elements now known, but also the release date. We reveal everything you need to know.
The Ashcrofts are back
What is Resident Evil 9 called?The name is Requiem. However, there will be no play on words with the number in the name, as in Resident EVIl: Biohazard and Resident Evil:VIllage.
When will it be released?Resident Evil 9: Requiem will be released onFebruary 27, 2026for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
Who will be the protagonist?There was speculation beforehand that Leon S. Kennedy might return as the protagonist. However, the trailer strongly suggests that you will take on the role of Grace Ashcroft in Requiem. Fans will already be familiar with her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, from the mixed-review Resident Evil Outbreak.
The trailer shows Grace, an FBI agent, investigating the mysterious deaths of several people – safely from her office chair. At least until she is given a new assignment by her moody boss. She is to investigate the hotel where her mother was brutally murdered.
Back to the roots
The trailer doesn’t reveal much about the story, but it makes it clear that it’s back to basics. Not only is horror apparently back in focus, but familiar locations from Raccoon City are also returning. These include the mansion from Part 1 and the police station from Part 2.
Homage to a legendary moment: Anyone who has played the original Resident Evil 1, not the remaster, will recognize what is probably the most iconic moment in the entire game series. The long, narrow hallway on the ground floor, where suddenly a zombie dog jumps through the window and causes a heart attack with the sound of shattering glass. You can find the image above in the article.
Not just the familiar: Although the trailer suggests that nostalgia will play a part, it also shows something new. Not only are there new characters, but previously unseen mutations will also make your life hell.
What’s the outlook: Since the trailer doesn’t show any gameplay yet, we don’t know if Resident Evil will return to the third-person perspective.
What our expert says: I’m happy to see a return to the roots – both in terms of horror and locations. Although I really enjoyed part 8, it didn’t feel like a real Resident Evil game to me. It looks like that could change now. Not least because, given the hotel setting, we’ll probably be spending most of our time in a building again.
I’m also really glad that decided on a completely new protagonist The previous story has more or less been wrapped up, giving Resident Evil the chance for a soft reboot. By referencing the first games, there could even be a reconciliation between young and old fans.
Now the main question that remains is how much action there will be. Will there be another shoot-’em-up orgy like in part 6? Or will it be all about atmosphere like in part 7? We won’t have to wait too long to find out. Nevertheless, it remains exciting!
When Capcom showed a short video in the middle of the showcase in which a developer explained that we would have to wait a little longer for Resident Evil, the GlobalESportNews editorial team was buzzing. We thought that meant a few weeks, not just a few minutes. Well, the Resident Evil team certainly got us there. That made the surprise at the end all the more enjoyable.
