„A masterclass in building tension” Resident Evil Requiem gameplay presentation at Summer Game Fest
Capcom showed off about thirty minutes of Resident Evil Requiem gameplay. Even in a room full of people during the day, the presentation gave me goosebumps.
After a Resident Evil Requiem is on the way from Capcom. Luckily, the showcase didn’t end for me. During Summer Game Fest Play Days, I got the opportunity to visit Capcom and watch a half-hour gameplay presentation of Resident Evil Requiem. Sitting in that dark theater put me through what I’m calling the five stages of fear.
Capcom shared a Resident Evil Requiem gameplay presentation, and I’m still scared
Resident Evil Requiem follows the story of FBI Agent Grace Ashcroft. Resident Evil 3. This is the first time the player will presumably return to Raccoon City since Resident Evil 3 in 1999, at least in the mainline titles.
At Summer Game Fest’s Play Days, Capcom invited me to sit in on a gameplay presentation of Resident Evil Requiem. I still the progression of fear I felt sitting in that dark theater. Grace Ashcroft quietly shuddered and took deep breaths as she explored the dark, silent hallways of the hotel, and I sat motionless in the crowd, waiting for something horrifying to jump out of the next doorway. At first, I tried to exude confidence. Then the anxiety crept in, I became tense, followed by goosebumps and sweaty palms—all five stages of fear. Even as I write this and rewatch the trailer, I’m keeping a few extra lights on in the apartment.
A ruined Raccoon City.Resident Evil Requiem, Developer: Capcom
The thirty-minute presentation was a master class in building tension. In the first fifteen minutes, we didn’t see anything at all; it was just the mystery of not knowing what to expect, but knowing something was out there, waiting for its moment. From a first-person perspective, the player flicked on light switches and walked down cold, dark hallways, each footstep echoing through the silent theater. Everyone in that room was enraptured.
Dark hallways.Resident Evil Requiem, Developer: Capcom
Eventually, the player began to assemble the puzzle pieces. She found a lighter to illuminate dark areas. A fuse to operate a locked gate. But she also quickly realized she was not alone. One excellent moment in the gameplay came as the player turned on a light, illuminating half of the room. But when the light flashed, something in the dark corner moved, knocking a glass bottle onto the floor, shattering the eerie silence. The bottle slowly rolled out of the darkness and into the light, slowly but surely confirming the presence of something just out of sight.
During this gameplay, Grace Ashcroft did not pick up a gun or weapon of any kind. She did grab an empty bottle, which appeared to be throwable. My best guess is that it can be used as a distraction or a last-ditch effort weapon. However, that this protagonist works for the FBI, so there’s a plausible explanation for her finding and using a gun at some point.
Grace Ashcroft at her desk.Resident Evil Requiem, Developer: Capcom
Grace Ashcroft also refrained from filling the silence with unnecessary voice lines, which I appreciated. The lack of dialogue kept the tension from being relieved, emphasizing the confusion and loneliness of the situation. Maybe this is something that will change when a player is confused about what to do next, rather than a perfectly executed gameplay experience created and presented by Capcom.
If you want to avoid spoilers for Requiem, I recommend avoiding this paragraph. After exploring the hallways for maybe ten minutes or more, the first jump scare arrives in the form of a body falling through a door. The player checks to see if they are still alive, and I’m so sure that the body will reanimate and attack. But instead, a giant clawed hand reaches from out of frame and grabs the body, lifting it to a horrific, enormous mouth and biting off the corpse’s head. The player then runs from this creature, occasionally checking to watch it stoop through the doorway as it chases after them. In many ways, this feels like classic Resident Evil. A terrifying threat that all you can do is run away from.
Surely there's nothing waiting around the corner.Resident Evil Requiem, Developer: Capcom
Resident Evil Requiem is an exciting new entry in the series. It’s going to finally return to Raccoon City, at least what’s left of it, and it will have some of the most high-fidelity visuals of any modern game. Plus, you can swap between first and third person at any point in the game. I’m very curious to see what else Capcom has in store for this ninth entry.
Thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long to find out. Resident Evil Requiem is planned to launch on February 27th, 2026. When it launches, it will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. Thanks to Capcom for the opportunity to watch the gameplay presentation of Resident Evil Requiem.
- Capcom
- survival horror
- horror (games)
- Resident Evil (series)
- Summer Game Fest
- PC
- PS5
- XSX