Capcom officially revealed Requiem in June 2025 and has set its release for February 27, 2026 on PS5. The ninth title in the mainline series is being billed as a new era of survival horror.
For you on PS5, it means the full power of next-gen hardware will be pushed to deliver visuals and tension that older consoles couldn’t fully support.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through:
- who the main character is,
- where the game seems to be heading, and
- which new mechanics could make this a standout title on PS5.
You’ll know exactly why Resident Evil Requiem should be on your radar by the end.
Who is the Main Character?
One of the first things Capcom revealed is that Resident Evil Requiem stars a completely new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft.
She is introduced as an “introverted” technical FBI analyst and not a hardened soldier or monster‑killer.
Grace’s personal connection to the story is that her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, was murdered years ago, and Grace is drawn into the mystery around that death. You can purchase Resident Evil Requiem on PS5 for the cheapest price and step back into Capcom’s terrifying new chapter.
Director Koshi Nakanishi has said that Grace starts vulnerable. She does not enter the world already bristling with weapons. Instead, she develops emotionally and in capability over time, and not be superhuman from minute one.
This design choice helps the player feel her fear and growth.
Compared to past protagonists like Leon Kennedy or Chris Redfield, Grace’s journey might feel more grounded. She brings a fresh perspective to the horror formula as someone who is unprepared and learning to survive.
Setting and story hooks
Requiem’s world pulls from familiar RE lore but also introduces new twists. First, the game is set roughly 30 years after key events in earlier titles.
One of the early locations we see is Hotel Wrenwood, where Grace’s mother died.
Another demo location is the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center which is a spooky medical facility with dim corridors.
It also looks like Raccoon City, the Umbrella Corporation legacy, and mutated zombies will resurface. But producers have said you don’t need to have played decades of RE games to enjoy Requiem.
So even if you’re new, the narrative should stand on its own.
What I found compelling is the tone being set as claustrophobic and psychological. Tight rooms and narrow paths with forced stealth over running is another reset from some entries that leaned heavily on action.
I believe the story will use personal tragedy and horror motifs to improve suspense rather than overwhelm newcomers.
New features
The core gameplay is where Requiem can shine. There are several bold changes and experiments, some of which feel very promising.
First-Person and Third-Person Switching
One of the biggest innovations in Requiem is that you can switch between first-person and third-person views on the fly.
First-person gives sharper scares and restricted vision. While third-person lets you see Grace as a character in the world, with expressive animations and wider angles. Though, there are some exclusive animations in the third-person that aren’t there if you play it in first.
This dual mode seems aimed at balancing fear and accessibility. In interviews, the developers said they introduced third-person because some players found first-person too intense.
A Relentless Stalker Enemy
Much like Mr. X or Lady Dimitrescu from previous RE entries, this game introduces a new monster that stalks you relentlessly.
You cannot kill or permanently disable this creature. It also senses sound and can even travel through ceilings to drop down.
But Requiem makes light its one weakness. Also, players can distract the stalker by throwing objects to lure it away and slip past.
Classic Horror Pillars
Despite the new tricks, Requiem retains core survival horror features:
- puzzles,
- inventory management,
- limited resources,
- locked doors, and
- environmental exploration.
The developers have also talked of a “roller-coaster” system, a tension curve that alternates between terror and relief. This means you won’t be on edge nonstop, nor lulled into comfort before a sudden spike. Moments of exploration, puzzle solving, or quiet horror will allow breathing room before the stalker strikes again.
PS5 specifics
A big part of Requiem’s appeal lies in what the PS5 hardware allows. Because this is a next-gen-oriented game, Capcom can push lighting and scene complexity without legacy constraints.
One of the technical stars is path tracing/advanced lighting. It includes:
- Dynamic global illumination
- Ray‑traced shadows
- Reflections
- Ambient occlusion
This helps keep the horror elements more realistic as:
- light sources matter,
- shapes cast realistic shadows, and
- environments respond to illumination in believable ways.
The PS5’s fast SSD also reduces hiccups in streaming environments. So going down dark corridors or loading adjacent rooms feels smooth.
While there is no confirmed PS5-only exclusive feature (so far), the performance, lighting, and stability make PS5 an ideal platform to experience Requiem as intended.
So, what should get you excited about Requiem?
Grace is a fresh, vulnerable protagonist. Her arc has emotional potential. The dual perspective system is also built from the ground up. It doesn’t feel like a tacked-on gimmick.
Next-gen visuals and lighting that are more than eye candy and integral to gameplay.
But what I will be watching is whether the first- and third-person balance holds up. Will one mode be clearly better or feel tacked on? It might be a challenge to maintain consistent performance on PS5 in large, complex scenes.
Capcom has also said they are trying to balance the lore and Easter eggs to reward longtime fans without alienating newcomers. So, it is to be seen if that balance can truly satisfy both groups.
