First Look at Resident Evil Requiem Gameplay: Capcom Explains Why Leon Wasn’t the Right Protagonist

Alright, so imagine this. I was sitting there, waiting for June’s Capcom Spotlight like a kid on Christmas Eve. I mean, who wasn’t buzzing about the Resident Evil Requiem reveal? But, uh, spoiler alert—it wasn’t the blowout gameplay demo everybody thought we’d get.

So, what did we actually see? Basically, a Creator’s Message video. You know, those behind-the-scenes chats where devs get all philosophical. Anyway! It wasn’t all chit-chat. They squeezed in a few snippets of gameplay, but it mostly felt like you’re being lectured by a professor with a slideshow. What a tease, right?

One juicy tidbit dropped though: the game’s protagonist is Grace, and she’s tied to the Ashcroft family from the Resident Evil Outbreak series. Feels like a nod to the oldies. Capcom’s mixing it up, steering away from the Winters family saga—decided it was time to revisit that chaotic story of Raccoon City and Umbrella. Oh, and it’s the 30th anniversary, so they’re probably feeling nostalgic or something.

But here’s what got me thinking: why isn’t Leon Kennedy in the driver’s seat for Requiem? I mean, if you’re heading back to Raccoon City, isn’t he the go-to guy? Turns out, Capcom figured Leon’s too seasoned to get spooked easily. They wanted someone who’d jump at their own shadow—enter Grace.

Grace isn’t just some newbie, though. She’s an FBI agent, so she’s got enough firepower knowledge to make things interesting. It’s like Capcom’s found this middle ground—she’s relatable, but not a total rookie. Feels like they’re making her reactions sync with how you or I might react… minus the FBI skills, obviously.

Now, onto gameplay perspectives. Interesting bit, Requiem lets you shift between first and third-person views. Players pick sides, apparently, like some epic perspective debate. And no, it’s not because of that third-person DLC from Resident Evil Village. Just Capcom being Capcom, letting folks play how they like.

Mark your calendars—Resident Evil Requiem is dropping on February 27, 2026. Play it on PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X/S.

Seriously though, can’t wait to dive back into the madness.