With Resident Evil Requiem roughly a month away from release, fans of Capcom’s seminal horror franchise are eager for new details about the game. Thanks to a digital showcase, they have some idea of how it plays.
During Capcom’s January Resident Evil Showcase, Resident Evil Requiem Director Koshi Nakanishi broke down some of the updated elements of gameplay after the reveal of Leon being a main character in this new installment. Resident Evil Requiem will effectively have two modes of play—Grace’s sections will be more focused on atmosphere and horror, while Leon’s will be more focused on action.
“Grace’s parts are more similar to Resident Evil 2 & 7…whereas Leon’s part is closer to the thrilling tension featured in Resident Evil 4,” said Nakanishi. He continued, “By combining Grace’s horror and Leon’s action and allowing you to play them side-by-side, we created an experience with an emotional range unlike any other Resident Evil to date.”
Nakanishi explained that when playing as Grace, players must be far more aware of their surroundings, as resources are limited and zombies pose a greater threat. Leon, by contrast, can rely on his combat training to target specific body parts to weaken enemies before finishing them with melee attacks. Nakanishi also discussed a new type of zombie featured in the game.
“This time, there are zombies that retain characteristics from when they were alive,” Nakanishi said. “Many of them cling to habits from their past lives, so by observing their behaviour closely, players can dodge attacks or take them down more effectively.” Nakanishi also highlighted an expanded crafting system inspired by Resident Evil 2 Remake. The updated system allows Grace to use infected blood to craft unique items, adding another layer of strategy to survival.
Regarding unique items, Resident Evil Requiem has partnered with Porsche and Hamilton Watches to create Leon’s custom Cayenne Turbo GT. “For his adventures, Leon needed a car which represents his style, but also delivers when it comes to navigating him through all of those dangerous moments he experiences in the game,” said Niklas Krellenberg.
On top of this, Capcom has teamed up with Hamilton Watches to create two distinct timepieces for Grace and Leon, both in and out of the game. The Khaki-filled Autochrono and the Pan-Europe Automatic will be limited to 2,000 pieces each and released alongside Resident Evil Requiem on February 27th.
Furthermore, Resident Evil Requiem will feature a variety of gameplay options for gamers of different skill levels. Players can switch between two camera perspectives, and these can be changed at any time during the game. Multiple difficulties are also available. Players can utilize Casual mode and use Aim Assist to take down zombies with more ease. But if you choose Standard Classic, ink ribbons will be needed to save the game when playing as Grace.
Also announced during the showcase, Resident Evil Requiem will also be available on the cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, in collaboration with NVIDIA. “It’s such an honour to work on Resident Evil,” said Vice President, Developer Relations at NVIDIA, Keita Iida, adding, “The iconic series has been thrilling fans around the world for close to 30 years and has continued to raise the bar for innovation and technology with every single release.”
In addition, a plethora of bonus content will be released alongside the game. A deluxe edition featuring bonus content such as extra costumes for Grace and Leon, weapon skins, and screen filters. In addition, one-sixth-scale figures of the two protagonists will be available for purchase and can be displayed separately or connected. Also, a special-edition Resident Evil Requiem Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller will launch with the game, along with Amiibo; however, details will be provided at a later date.
Lastly, Gold Editions of both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, including all downloadable content, will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 on the same day as Resident Evil Requiem. As an added celebration for the series’ 30th anniversary, special orchestral concerts will be happening in Japan, as well as North America and Europe.
Resident Evil Requiem launches for Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and GeForce Now on February 27th, 2026.
