Despite being one of the most significant locations in the series, it’s surprising how long Raccoon City has been absent from the mainline Resident Evil titles. It was last seen in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, but given the string of remakes, returning to Raccoon City in Resident Evil Requiem will feel familiar to Resident Evil fans.
Resident Evil Requiem will take place in both the Wrenwood Hotel and Raccoon City
While Resident Evil Requiem’s story seems to be centered around the Wrenwood Hotel – the place where protagonist Grace Ashcroft’s mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, was murdered – the reveal trailer also showed the infamous Raccoon City. But instead of the dying, zombie-infested city it once was, Raccoon City looks like a deserted, empty shell of its former self. While several buildings are still standing, a large crater in the center of the city serves as a reminder of the experimental missile that was launched to contain the 1998 zombie outbreak.
Raccoon City still has several unsolved mysteries
The revelation that Raccoon City wasn’t completely destroyed implies there could be a chance that some zombies (and humans) survived, considering the city was in the middle of a zombie outbreak before it was bombed. As the Umbrella Corporation heavily invested in Raccoon City during its early years, there is a high chance that some of its secrets remained intact. The remnants of the Raccoon City Police Department (RCPD), for instance, still serve as a front for the Umbrella research facility beneath it. Given the horrors that were present in 1998, whatever remained could have evolved into something far more sinister.
Going back to Raccoon City after so long will feel both nostalgic and fresh
Reactions to Raccoon City’s appearance in the reveal trailer are proof of how special the setting is to fans. From landmarks like the RCPD and St. Michael Clock Tower to the zombie-filled streets, those who played the original Resident Evil titles or the remakes will feel a sense of nostalgia at the mere mention of the city.
Fans of past games who explore Resident Evil Requiem’s version of Raccoon City will feel a similar sense of nostalgia that series veterans felt when they first played the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes. A ruined Raccoon City will still evoke feelings of nostalgia, but the new layout caused by the bombing and years of neglect make it different enough to warrant further exploration. While series newcomers will still feel the terror that the crumbling city evokes, returning visitors will appreciate Raccoon City’s comeback due to having experienced its past horrors firsthand.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows (Steam).
