Resident Evil Requiem Continues "Overarching Narrative" That Began In Raccoon City
Producer Masato Kumazawa shares why the series is returning to Raccoon City
Following the T-virus outbreak, the US government ordered a missile strike to destroy the city in order to eradicate the virus. In having players return to its ruins about 30 years later, Kumazawa said that the team also wanted a character "with a personal connection to the city itself," introducing Grace Ashcroft, the presumed daughter of Resident Evil: Outbreak's Alyssa Ashcroft.
Kumazawa described Grace as a "relatable protagonist," adding, "By making Grace someone who reflects the player’s own vulnerability, we believe players will enjoy a gameplay experience filled with tension and immersion. When walking alone down a dark hallway, her breathing becomes erratic; when an enemy suddenly appears, she jumps in fright. Grace is a character with a low tolerance for fear, but she grows throughout the story and eventually begins to confront various horrors with courage."
The game's director Koshi Nakanishi had also echoed this sentiment during the game's appearance at a Capcom showcase, when explaining that the decision not to have Leon Kennedy as a protagonist was that he would have been "a bad match for horror."
Kumazawa also elaborated on Resident Evil Requiem's concept of "addictive fear," a compulsion to want to know what will happen next even though you might find it terrifying. "The reason behind this concept is that recent entries in the series, such as Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4, while still horror titles, leaned heavily into action," he explained. "With the latest installment we wanted to return to a game that puts a strong focus on horror."
The return to Raccoon City and to the series' horror roots is also good timing for Resident Evil's 30th anniversary next year, when Resident Evil Requiem releases. It hits Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC on February 27, 2026.
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Resident Evil Requiem PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X PCThis story originally appeared on: GameSpot - Author:UK GAG
