Now that the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis have given players a chance to experience (or re-experience) the Raccoon City outbreak firsthand, Resident Evil Requiem is revisiting the city nearly 30 years after the infamous disaster. The game follows Grace Ashcroft as she searches for answers regarding the death of her mother Alyssa Ashcroft, while also learning more about the “dark shadow” the outbreak left on the city.
In an interview with 4Gamer, game director Koshi Nakanishi and producer Masato Kumazawa talked about the decision to return to Raccoon City. According to Nakanishi, Resident Evil Requiem focuses on two things – Grace and Raccoon City. Both have been shaped by shocking events. Players will experience Grace’s emotional journey firsthand as she uncovers the truth about her mother’s death and comes to terms with her own powerlessness.
As Grace’s story unfolds, you will experience the aftermath of the Raccoon City outbreak and how the tragedy impacted its remaining survivors. Nakanishi says that the “requiem” in the game’s title is a reference to how Alyssa’s and the Raccoon City outbreak victims’ deaths are remembered by the living.
Nakanishi admits that he has always wanted to properly explore the aftermath of the Raccoon City outbreak. He likens it to “rice left forgotten in a rice cooker for a week – something you probably don’t want to open, but eventually curiosity makes you lift the lid.” That curiosity finally led him back to the city as the setting for the game.
Setting Nakanishi’s weird analogy aside, Kumazawa says that since Ethan Winters’ story was concluded in Resident Evil Village, now is as good a time as any to return to Raccoon City. He adds that since Resident Evil features several characters and events, Capcom wouldn’t be opposed to catching fans up on their favorite elements of the franchise. That said, they want to make sure they pay proper homage to Raccoon City in Resident Evil Requiem.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows (Steam).
