Resident Evil Requiem Creator’s Message #1 emphasizes its unique blend of addictive fear. Read on to learn more about how it fares compared to previous titles from the series and how the title relates to the story.
Resident Evil Requiem Creator’s Message #1
Pushing the Series Forward
Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) is set up to be a title that pushes the Resident Evil series forward with its "addictive fear," according to its director. In Capcom’s RE9 Creator’s Message #1 video on June 26, Director Koshi Nakanishi and other developers shared some insights on the core concept of the game.
Nakanishi stated that the development concept revolved around creating an addictive fear. Producer Masachika Kawata mentioned that the team explored many different systems early in development. Things such as an online RE or open-world RE came, but were ultimately scrapped as the developers realized that it wasn’t what fans wanted to play.
The series has explored different forms of fear, such as RE7, where everything was for the sake of fear, RE2 remake, which delivered fear through gameplay, and RE4 remake, which is more action-based. Nakanishi honed in on RE7’s concept of fear, which is taken a step further for RE9.
"For us, an ‘addictive fear’ means, even though you might be scared, you just can’t stop playing." he said. Once players overcome that fear, they will feel a huge sense of accomplishment.
Grace Ashcroft is a Typical Horror Game Protagonist
RE9 introduces the new face of the series, Grace Ashcroft, as Kawata described her as a "typical horror game protagonist." Meanwhile, Art Director Tomonori Takano stated that, unlike past protagonists in the franchise, Grace is not a superhero-type. She uses her own strength to survive, which is also part of her charm.
Furthermore, Producer Masato Kumazawa envisions Grace to be beloved by many, just like Ethan Winters was in RE7. Players will be able to empathize with her circumstances, and will form a deep connection as the game progresses. Kumaza noted, "She’s a character players can truly connect with."
In terms of creating her model, the developers highlighted the importance of her expressions and how her hair may be an integral part of her personality. With the new improvements from RE Engine and help from PRAGMATA’s "Strand" feature, they were able to produce the quality they strived for, and Takano confidently said that it was a "visual success."
A Requiem of Sorts For The People of Raccoon City
In a PlayStation.blog interview on June 26, Kumazawa delved deeper into the details of the upcoming Resident Evil title. RE9’s title "Requiem" has a deeper meaning embedded within its story, and can be interpreted in many ways once players finish the game.
Kumazawa explained, "There are many layers to the title: a requiem for the protagonist, – Grace Ashcroft, – grappling with the loss of her mother eight years ago, and a requiem for all of the people who were caught up in the Raccoon City incident, to name but just a few examples. But once you complete the game, I believe you’ll find even more levels of meaning for the subtitle."
Unlike recent titles such as RE7 and RE Village, which focused on the Winters Family saga, RE9 takes players back to Raccoon City. Kumazawa thinks it is fitting to return to this city as the series celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Third-Person Perspective Added Due to Fan Feedback
The addition of the third-person perspective was because of fan feedback and was not part of their initial plans. "Our analysis of recent gameplay trends in the series revealed that many players tend to engage with either first-person or third-person titles exclusively," Kumazawa stated.
He admitted that doing both first-person and third-person perspectives for RE9 was challenging, as point of view is an important factor in evoking fear. Kumazawa elaborated, "These differences affect not only character models and animations, but also fine-tuned balance, UI, sound design, and more. It’s essentially like developing two separate games in parallel."
With the new advancements in technology and emphasis on fan feedback, RE9 is shaping up to be a game that caters to old and new fans of the series. Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
Source:
Resident Evil Requiem - Creators' Message #1
Resident Evil Requiem Producer Masato Kumazawa Q&A
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