Resident Evil Requiem still has "some remaining elements" from its initial multiplayer concept. Read on to learn more about what RE9 retained from its previous version and how much action fans can expect from the game.
Resident Evil Requiem Multiplayer Elements and Action Themes
Some Remaining Elements of Its Original Multiplayer Concept
Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) still has remnants of its original multiplayer concept, according to its producer, Masato Kumazawa. In the Resident Evil Requiem Creator’s Message #1, Game Director Koshi Nakanishi stated that the game was initially conceptualized as an open-world, online experience, but was ultimately scrapped when they realized it wasn't what fans wanted for the franchise.
In an interview with Press Start on November 15, Kumazawa revealed that some multiplayer elements are still present in RE9, but remained tight-lipped about which aspects these are. While the initial concept wasn't scary enough, the developers found the gameplay fun, which is why they retained some parts of it.
"Looking at the game when it was multiplayer, the horror part was very mild. However, in that build, we made a game that was fun to play. But we looked deeply into this game and wondered if a fan of the franchise would really like this, so we thought they would probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much. That’s the reason we made it back into single player. But because it was fun, we added elements from that build to the final game to ensure it was fun," Kumazawa said.
He noted that the game was in development for over six years, including the time when it was being developed as a multiplayer game. Nakanishi explained that the development team pivoted away from the multiplayer concept to highlight the core elements fans desired for the series: survival horror and generating fear.
"I believe fans of the franchise want is[sic] survival horror and being scared. That is the number one thing that fans want. So by saying that, we can’t just slap on new skins and new characters and give you the same experience. It wouldn’t be that good. That’s why we wanted to make sure we added new elements that ensured this feels like a new survival horror game," the producer said.
Concerns About Being Too Action-Heavy
Speaking of the fan feedback, the community has longed for an RE game that focuses heavily on horror. Some players said that recent RE titles have been "too action-heavy," notably with their previous installments, RE6 and RE Village.
Conversely, Nakanishi previously stated that RE9 will adopt the classic RE1 and RE2 design philosophy, specifically requiring players to use more strategy in inventory management and in solving environmental challenges. Kumazawa doubled down on this sentiment and said, "Looking back at the feedback, we understand how fans prefer more horror. Requiem was in development way before Village. We just wanted to make sure in this game, we wanted to focus on the horror and horror be the main part".
Furthermore, he discussed the progression of horror in RE9. He looked back at RE7 and RE Village and stated that they were indeed very action-heavy, especially towards the end of the game, so for RE9, the team wanted to make sure that it would be scary until the end.
Kumazawa elaborated, "But to put more details and be more specific, it’s not about scaring people the entire way but using elements of non-horror to improve the horror. For example, you have horror, but then you put a bit of action in there. By putting in the action, and making sure the player isn’t thinking about the horror, the next horror part will scare more effectively than non-stop scares. So we have thought about what order [of scenarios] will be important, and what will be the best order of events that will keep players scared for the whole duration."
No Pre-Requisites or Prior Knowledge Required to Play RE9
While the RE series has been going on for almost 30 years, Kumazawa promised that everyone will enjoy RE9. He previously said that newcomers will 100% enjoy the game, while long-time fans will enjoy it 150%.
"There are no prerequisites for the game or prior knowledge required. If this is a new game for them or their entry into the series, I want them also to enjoy this, and that any player can play thanks to difficulties like Casual. Please don’t think there are entry barriers to this game," Kumawa said.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
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Resident Evil Requiem Interview – Putting The Horror In Survival Horror
