Standing amidst the hyper-realistic, moss-covered rubble of what used to be the Raccoon City Police Department, it becomes immediately clear that Resident Evil Requiem is not just another sequel—it is Capcom’s magnum opus. With the Resident Evil Requiem release date set for February 27, 2026, we spent four hours with the full build on PlayStation 5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2. The verdict? This is the most ambitious, technically stunning, and terrifying entry in the franchise’s 30-year history.
A Tale of Two Survivors: Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft
The most striking innovation in Resident Evil Requiem is its seamless dual-protagonist system, which fundamentally alters the game's pacing. You aren't just playing one campaign; you are navigating two distinct survival philosophies. On one hand, you have Resident Evil 9 Leon Kennedy—older, grittier, and donning a weathered black jacket that screams veteran experience. Capcom’s “Ikeoji” (cool older man) design for Leon isn’t just aesthetic; his gameplay is weighty and tactical. His sections feel like a modernized evolution of Resident Evil 4, giving players the heavy artillery needed to push back against the horde.
Then there is Grace Ashcroft, an FBI technical analyst and daughter of Outbreak survivor Alyssa Ashcroft. Her segments strip away the power fantasy. Armed with little more than a flashlight and a standard-issue pistol, Grace’s gameplay is pure, unadulterated survival horror reminiscent of Resident Evil 7. Forced to explore the ruins of Raccoon City—now a quarantine zone reclaimed by nature and a new threat—her vulnerability creates a suffocating tension that perfectly balances Leon's action-heavy set pieces.
Smart Zombies and the Elanthropus Threat
The enemies in Capcom Resident Evil 2026 have evolved. Gone are the mindless shufflers of the past. The new infection, dubbed the "Elanthropus" virus (a terrifying hybrid of the Mold and Progenitor strains), has birthed enemies that retain fragments of their human intelligence. During our RE9 gameplay impressions, we were genuinely rattled when a "zombie" didn't just bite, but picked up a discarded pipe to flank us.
These creatures communicate in guttural moans, alerting others to your location. In one harrowing sequence near the crumbling City Hall, I watched a horde coordinate to cut off my escape route, forcing me to barricade a door—a mechanic that feels more vital now than ever. The new villain, Victor Gideon, looms over these events with a presence that rivals Wesker, orchestrating a hunt that feels personal and relentless.
Technical Marvel: Resident Evil Requiem Switch 2 Performance
Perhaps the biggest surprise of our preview session was the performance on Nintendo’s new hardware. The Resident Evil Requiem Switch 2 version is a technical revelation. Unlike the cloud versions of the past, this is a native port running the RE Engine at a blistering pace. While the PS5 Pro version dazzles with full path tracing and 4K textures that make every spore of mold visible, the Switch 2 holds its own with impressive fidelity and a rock-solid framerate.
Capcom has also tailored the experience for the handheld hybrid. While rumors of mouse support didn't pan out, the implementation of gyroscope aiming for precision shots feels intuitive, adding a layer of physical immersion to the panic. Seeing the sun set over the devastated skyline of Raccoon City on a portable screen, with no compromise in atmospheric lighting, is a testament to how scalable and powerful the RE Engine has become.
Final Thoughts: A contender for Best Horror Game of 2026?
As we approach the launch, it is hard not to be hyperbolic. Resident Evil Requiem manages to honor the series' legacy while pushing it forward. The return to a destroyed Raccoon City satisfies a decades-long curiosity, while the interplay between Leon and Grace provides narrative depth we haven't seen since the Revelations series.
With its seamless blend of action and horror, next-gen visual storytelling, and a villain that actually intimidates, this is shaping up to be one of the best horror games 2026 has to offer. Whether you are a veteran S.T.A.R.S. member or a newcomer, February 27 cannot come soon enough.
