The Horror Returns: Inside Resident Evil Requiem's Nightmare
Twenty-eight years after Raccoon City's destruction, the T-virus is back, and Resident Evil Requiem (also known as Resident Evil 9) has delivered the most terrifying chapter in the franchise's 30-year history. Released on February 27, 2026, this ninth mainline installment has already sold 7 million copies in two months, becoming the fastest-selling Resident Evil game ever.[forbes]
What makes Requiem different? For the first time, you play as two protagonists with completely opposite gameplay styles: FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft experiences claustrophobic first-person survival horror, while Leon S. Kennedy delivers action-packed third-person combat. The game returns to Vice City's evil twin—Raccoon City—and introduces the most menacing new villain since Wesker: Victor Gideon, an ex-Umbrella virologist obsessed with immortality.[youtube][le-joueur]
Whether you're stuck on a puzzle, struggling against boss fights, or just want to understand Grace's connection to Alyssa Ashcroft, this guide breaks down everything you need to dominate Requiem's nightmare.
Resident Evil Requiem Release Date & Platforms
When Did RE9 Launch?
Resident Evil Requiem officially launched on Friday, February 27, 2026.[frvr]
Available Platforms
You can play Requiem on:
Pre-Order Editions
Capcom released multiple editions including Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Bundle, with pre-orders including exclusive Fortnite Grace skin (granted to Epic Games Store purchasers).[en.wikipedia]
Main Characters: Grace Ashcroft & Leon Kennedy
Grace Ashcroft: The New Main Protagonist
Grace Ashcroft is FBI intelligence analyst and the game's primary character, according to director Koshi Nakanishi.[yahoo]
Key Facts About Grace
Role: FBI technical analyst tasked with investigating mysterious deaths
Backstory: Daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, investigative reporter and survivor from Resident Evil Outbreak (2003)[en.wikipedia]
Personality: Introverted bookworm who feels powerless in combat, unlike traditional RE protagonists[yahoo]
Voice Actor: Angela Sant'Albano (English), Shihori Kanjiya (Japanese)[en.wikipedia]
Gameplay Style: First-person survival horror with limited resources[youtube][en.wikipedia]
Grace investigates a mysterious death at the Wrenwood Hotel—the exact place her mother was murdered eight years earlier. Inside, she finds a data disk left by Alyssa, setting the entire story in motion.[residentevil.fandom]
Leon S. Kennedy: The Veteran Returns
Leon Kennedy makes his first major appearance since Resident Evil 6 (2012), now 14 years older.[en.wikipedia]
Leon's Profile
Leon's sections focus on combat and resources, letting you use various firearms, takedowns, and more abundant supplies compared to Grace's survival-horror approach. He also battles large monsters in traditional boss fights.[en.wikipedia]
Dual-Perspective Gameplay
Requiem alternates between Grace and Leon throughout the story, similar to Revelations 2.[eurogamer]
Perspective options:
First-person: Default for Grace (tense, realistic experience)
Third-person: Default for Leon (action-based style)
Both characters: Can switch between perspectives anytime[youtube][en.wikipedia]
Capcom designed first-person for tension and third-person for action preference.[en.wikipedia]
The Villain: Victor Gideon Explained
Who Is Victor Gideon?
Victor Gideon is the main antagonist of Resident Evil Requiem.[le-joueur]
Villain Profile
[ggwp]
Gideon conducts dangerous experiments at Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, using patients as test subjects for the mutated T-virus. He becomes a Nemesis-like monster in the final battle, forcing Leon to kill him.[ggwp]
Story Setting: Where Does RE9 Take Place?
Timeline
Requiem is set in October 2026, exactly 28 years after Raccoon City's destruction in 1998.[en.wikipedia]
Three Major Locations
The game features three main areas, with players alternating between Grace and Leon:
Wrenwood Hotel (Condemned building where Grace's mother died)
Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center (Hospital where Victor infects staff/patients)
Raccoon City Ruins (Quarantined destroyed city with hidden ARK facility)
Unlike previous entries, Requiem has no chapter structure. The walkthrough is organized by protagonist transitions instead.[eurogamer]
Key Story Elements
Raccoon City Syndrome (RCS): Lingering T-virus mutations causing mysterious deaths among survivors[yahoo]
Elpis: Spencer's ultimate weapon—revealed to be a potent antiviral that neutralizes all viral-based weapons[yahoo]
The Girl: Giant mutant stalking Grace, immune to normal damage, must be avoided like Mr. X[en.wikipedia]
ARK: Former Umbrella facility hidden beneath destroyed Raccoon City[yahoo]
Complete Walkthrough: Area Breakdown & Tips
How the Walkthrough Works
Eurogamer's official walkthrough organizes the game by area transitions between protagonists, not chapters.[eurogamer]
Grace's Sections: Survival Horror Checklist
When playing as Grace, remember:
Inventory: Limited slots with supply boxes for stowing items[en.wikipedia]
Saving: Must use ink ribbons at typewriters on Standard (Classic) or Insanity difficulty[en.wikipedia]
Stealth: Can crouch, sneak, and hide under tables[en.wikipedia]
The Girl: Stalks through walls/ceilings—must bring into light to damage[en.wikipedia]
Distraction: Throw glass bottles to distract enemies[en.wikipedia]
Lighting: Lighter/flashlight illuminates dark areas but attracts The Girl[en.wikipedia]
Leon's Sections: Action Combat Guide
Leon's gameplay focuses on combat:
Inventory: Briefcase system—stow items if space exists (no finite slots)[en.wikipedia]
Melee: Hatchet with limited durability for parrying attacks[en.wikipedia]
Weapon Sharing: Pick up enemy weapons and use against them[en.wikipedia]
Upgrades: Find BSAA containers for new items or weapon upgrades from treasures/enemy kills[en.wikipedia]
Boss Fights: Traditional large-monster battles[en.wikipedia]
Chapter-by-Area Breakdown
From YouTube walkthrough timestamps:[youtube]
Wrenwood
Grace: Wrenwood Hotel (00:03:50)
Leon: Wrenwood City Streets (00:40:05)
Rhodes Hill
Grace: Care Center Arrival (00:48:00)
Leon: Care Center Arrival (01:15:24)
Grace: Find 3 Quartz (01:25:38)
Leon: Care Center Attic (04:22:50)
Grace: Basement (04:43:37)
Grace: Courtyard (05:40:38)
Leon: Chapel (06:09:00)
Grace: Water Treatment Plant (06:19:00)
Raccoon City
Leon: East Side (06:38:08)
Leon: Center/RPD (08:47:50)
ARK
Leon: Entrance (10:04:10)
Grace: Lower ARK (10:19:43)
Leon: Lower ARK (10:58:48)
[youtube]
Boss Fights & Puzzle Solutions
All Bosses Compilation
Requiem features 10 boss fights total.[youtube]
Major bosses include:
The Girl (Grace's stalking mutant)
Emily (mutates after being wounded)
Victor Gideon (final Nemesis-like mutation)
Various large monsters in Leon's sections
[youtube]
Final Challenge Puzzle
The game includes an insane final puzzle requiring many steps.[ign]
Password Solution: The final password is "HOPE".[yahoo]
Grace deduces this after viewing her mother's disk containing Oswell Spencer's interviews, where he expresses regret and reveals he adopted Grace as an infant—a normal child unrelated to cloning experiments—before entrusting her to Alyssa. Spencer's "final hope" lay in Grace, making "Hope" the correct code.[yahoo]
Game Features & Updates
Photo Mode Added
On March 27, 2026, Capcom released an update including Photo Mode.[en.wikipedia]
Features:
Adjust camera positioning, angles, zoom, focus
Modify character poses and facial expressions
Apply stickers, frames, and filters
Accessible from pause menu (like RE Village)
Mini-Game: "Leon Must Die Forever"
Released on May 8, 2026 as downloadable content.[en.wikipedia]
Sales & Reception
Record-Breaking Performance
Critical Scores
OpenCritic: 96% recommend[en.wikipedia]
Reviewers called it a "masterful bit of suffocating horror and a nostalgic, fan-thrilling victory lap".[en.wikipedia]
Internal Link Suggestions
Link to these related articles on your site:
"Best Resident Evil Games of All Time: RE1 to RE9 Ranked" – Complete franchise ranking
"How to Beat Every Boss in Resident Evil Requiem" – Detailed boss strategies
"Resident Evil Series Timeline: All Events from 1998 to 2026" – Complete lore guide
Authoritative External Sources
For official RE Requiem news:
Capcom Official Website – capcom.co.jp
IGN Resident Evil Requiem Guide – ign.com/wikis/resident-evil-requiem
Conclusion: Requiem Is the Best RE Since RE4
Resident Evil Requiem delivers what fans wanted: authentic horror through Grace combined with Leon's action spectacle, all set in the iconic Raccoon City ruins. With 7 million copies sold, universal acclaim (89–93 Metacritic), and a story that ties together Alyssa Ashcroft, Oswell Spencer, and Elpis's antiviral reveal, this is the franchise's most emotional and cinematic entry yet.[yahoo]
Your next steps:
Grab the guide if you're stuck on puzzles
Master both perspectives (first-person for tension, third-person for action)
Don't forget the password: "HOPE"
The horror begins again. Welcome to Raccoon City.
FAQ: Resident Evil Requiem Questions
1. What is the release date for Resident Evil Requiem (RE9)?
Resident Evil Requiem launched on February 27, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC.[forbes]
2. Who is the main character in Resident Evil 9?
Grace Ashcroft is the main character, according to director Koshi Nakanishi. She's an FBI analyst and daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak.[en.wikipedia]
3. Is Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem?
Yes, Leon S. Kennedy is a playable character alongside Grace. He has action-oriented third-person gameplay, unlike Grace's first-person survival horror. This is Leon's first major appearance since RE6 (2012).[youtube][en.wikipedia]
4. What is the villain's name in Resident Evil 9?
The main antagonist is Victor Gideon, a former Umbrella virologist obsessed with immortality who injects himself with the Nemesis-Gamma parasite.[residentevilproject]
5. What is the final password in Resident Evil Requiem?
The final challenge password is "HOPE". Grace deduces this after learning Oswell Spencer adopted her as an infant and that "Hope" was his final hope.[yahoo]
Need more RE9 help? Check out IGN's complete walkthrough for every puzzle and boss strategy.
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