Geoff Keighley premiered RE9 Requiem at the end of his Summer Game Fest showcase. The following cinematic introduces Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, Grace Ashcroft. The auditorium crowd was shocked as a decaying Raccoon City map appeared, roaring with excitement. As news spread, fans of the underground gem Resident Evil Outbreak quickly learned that Grace is related to reporter Alyssa Ashcroft.
Returning to Raccoon City
RE9 Requiem follows Grace Ashcroft investigating an ongoing series of murders after a fifth victim was discovered. Her superior, Nathan Dempsy, wants her to start at the Wrenwood Hotel. The establishment’s name alone triggers her painful memories of men in black cloaks. Her superior is aware that she and her mother, Alyssa, were involved with a related murder case eight years ago.
The tragic events led to Alyssa’s death. Dempsy understood her anxiety but insisted on tasking Grace because she is a skilled tech analyst. The audience later sees her strapped to a hospital bed in the dark. The teaser presented Raccoon City in its prime and after its nuclear fallout. Capcom even included the upcoming villain who seeks Grace as the Chosen One. The reason is yet to be revealed, but fans know it’s related to Umbrella’s pharmaceutical research.
RE9 Requiem Connections to Outbreak
The RE community is excited to see what Capcom will bring from Resident Evil Outbreak into the new mainline game. With Alyssa Ashcroft as the foundation, players could experience a retelling of the Raccoon City survivors’ duology. She worked as an investigative reporter who tried to expose Umbrella for creating biological weapons and the 1998 T-Virus outbreak. However, her article was dismissed as “fanatical”.
Resident Evil YouTuber KendoGunShop Survivor Horror discovered that Alyssa continues investigating in RE7 Biohazard. If players take Ethan into the Baker House’s living room, they will find a newspaper article on the Southern Louisiana kidnappings. Her report was published on January 16, 2016.
RE9 Requiem speculated that an older Alyssa appears from Grace’s flashback. In Resident Evil Outbreak, she had a bobbed haircut and wore an all-red formal suit. Fans identified Alyssa in the game’s reveal trailer from her hairstyle and red raincoat. Capcom shared the cover art with Grace wearing her mother’s coat as a video thumbnail on their YouTube channel.
Game Expectations
Game director Koshi Nakanishi plans to revive the psychological horror RE7 Biohazard established. From that game, Ethan endured the Mold mutation of the Baker Family as he searched for his missing wife, Mia. RE9 Requiem utilizes Grace’s trauma to offer players a new gameplay approach.
Grace’s flashbacks of the Wrenwood Hotel hinted that the game will be played in third person. They also indicated the possibility that both Alyssa and her daughter are playable. This is supported by the angle of Alyssa’s backside and Raccoon City in its former glory.
The game’s in-engine presentation gives a wonderful outlook on the destruction Umbrella has caused. The crater of the nuclear bomb explosion and the Raccoon Police Department remains gave fans hope for this refreshing take on the series. As for the BOWs, players will be dealing with a new hallway crawler testing their ammo-reserving and stealth skills. Grace will also be facing her fears of the cloaked suspects, causing the latest murders.
Whether previous RE protagonists will appear throughout her story remains a mystery. Chris Redfield in RE8 Village was last seen raising Ethan’s daughter, Rose Winters. Leon S. Kennedy’s last mission can be traced back to Resident Evil 6. He assisted US Secret Service agent Helena Harper in stopping Derek Simmons from spreading the C-virus worldwide. Resident Evil fans don’t have to wait very long for the game’s arrival. RE9 Requiem’s teaser announced the release date for February 27, 2026.
