Gamescom 2025 has introduced some very welcome information about Resident Evil Requiem, the upcoming instalment to its ever-popular horror franchise. With a narrative and gameplay showcase now made public data, there’s much more to unpack concerning the new recreation than meets the attention.
From probably occurrences within the recreation’s story to gameplay tweaks that might up the ante for Grace Ashcroft as she encounters extra horrors than she bargained for when she joined the FBI, listed here are some new particulars that we had been capable of glean from the gameplay showcase and the nostalgic look it gave us into Grace and Alyssa’s time as mom and daughter.
Let’s dive in.
1. The New Lighting System Is Extra Than Simply Beauty
Grace’s terrifying time within the recreation’s demo introduced one thing very fascinating to, er, mild. We already knew that Requiem was going to be fairly photorealistic, presenting the sequence’ trademark terrors with cinematic aptitude and a daunting degree of authenticity. Its lighting techniques had been terrific additions, including to the oppressive ambiance the builders needed to convey.
However the brand new demo showcases that they may very well be essential elements of the gameplay loop as effectively. Grace is proven turning on an overhead white lamp in a particular room as she is relentlessly pursued by the sport’s new Stalker enemy. Surprisingly sufficient, the monster is seared by the sunshine, instantly retreating from the room and giving Grace a short respite from the chase.
It’s fairly probably that different enemies within the recreation might face comparable unfavorable results, making the strategic use of lights in sure environments fairly essential to surviving the ordeal that’s in retailer for us. It will be fairly a wise approach to make the most of current-gen energy to amp up the expertise on provide, and the RE Engine appears fairly as much as the duty at this level.
2. Eerie Enemies
Requiem appears to be hanging a steadiness between the unique Resident Evil video games and their fashionable counterparts, mixing motion and slower sequences with aplomb. In fact, that mix wants the proper of adversaries to convey all of it collectively, and this upcoming title appears to have that lined.
The Stalker is terrifying, no two methods about it. Grotesque, imposing, and seemingly devoid of a shred of mercy, its pursuit of Grace has been the spotlight of a number of analyses of how the sport delivers its scares. Nevertheless, we simply can’t appear to shake the picture of the monster from the story showcase, the dried up blood round its eyes and mouth as haunting as the best way during which it killed the poor resort supervisor with no qualms and an nearly bloodthirsty manner about it.
If these two enemies are any indication, it is a recreation that makes us hesitate to take it on, irrespective of how keen we’re to play it.
3. Ink Ribbons Don’t Save
Evidently the sport is constant with extra conventional strategies of saving your progress, with a tongue-in-cheek reference to ink ribbons included within the demo. Grace finds one hidden away, just for the merchandise description to state that it’s fully ineffective.
For these of you who’re unaware, ink ribbons was once an merchandise obtainable in restricted portions all through older Resident Evil video games, including a layer of technique to every playthrough as you wanted to watch out about utilizing them.
Maybe there’s extra to that reference, and the studio is making an attempt some severe misdirection? We’ll have to attend to search out out.
4. Parallel Views
Whereas so much has already been stated on the relative deserves of a first-person versus a third-person perspective within the recreation, we’d weigh in by saying that each angles are equally terrifying and completely viable methods of having fun with the sport.
It’s going to boil right down to your preferences and the way you select to benefit from the expertise. Our suggestion could be switching between the 2, which appears to be fairly seamless, simply as the sport meant it to be. They’re each equally terrifying, which is what actually issues in a recreation like Requiem.
5. The Extra Issues Change, The Extra They Keep The Identical
Though Requiem is bringing plenty of groundbreaking additions to the franchise, it’s nonetheless a Resident Evil title at its coronary heart. You’re nonetheless going to be making your method by way of areas, chasing down helpful objects and provides like therapeutic herbs whereas avoiding confrontations with the sport’s terrifying enemies.
It’s good that there’s a modicum of familiarity to supply us some consolation in a recreation the place security and safety are very useful commodities.
6. A Bond of Blood
It’s time to show our consideration to the story showcase, and the flashback to Grace and Alyssa’s time on the resort is a superb place to start out. Grace is clearly sad with Alyssa’s absence for an unspecified, prolonged length, however their relationship appears fairly sturdy regardless of that.
Nevertheless, the truth that they’re staying at a resort, coupled with Alyssa’s response to the mysterious cellphone name she receives, means that the 2 might have been on the run from somebody, or one thing.
That’s additional solidified by the truth that Alyssa instantly reaches into her purse for a handgun, exhorting Grace to affix her flight. That plan clearly goes awry, with the pair being attacked by the enemy we talked about earlier than and Alyssa’s obvious off-screen dying. We’re nonetheless not satisfied that she’s actually useless, a idea that we’re going to dive into in only a minute.
7. Alyssa’s Pistol
Earlier than we dive into Alyssa’s presumed dying, let’s discuss concerning the gun she attracts from her purse after the cellphone name. It’s fairly much like the pistol that Leon and Ada Wong use in Resident Evil 2, which opens up fascinating potentialities.
For example, we all know that Alyssa’s time with the Racoon Press introduced her in touch with the Umbrella Company’s shady dealings. We additionally know that Resident Evil, the place she made her first look within the franchise, is ready between the occasions of RE2 and RE3, titles that featured Leon, Ada, and Jill Valentine. May the cellphone name she obtained be from considered one of these characters, whom she might have met in the course of the course of her investigations?
As soon as once more, we’re going to have to attend to search out out if bringing in a few of its iconic solid from the previous or if that pistol is only a intelligent reference.
8. The Stalker
With a number of latest Resident Evil titles that includes a Stalker enemy in some type, the one on this recreation may very well be as horrifying as it’s for a motive. We’ve already put Alyssa on the very high of characters we wish to see making a return to the franchise, speculating that having her alive would lend weight and emotional heft to Grace’s harrowing journey and provides significant improvement for her character.
The Stalker’s blond hair and its obvious obsession with Grace would possibly very effectively imply that Alyssa’s destiny on the finish of the story trailer was that she was reworked into the Stalker after the assault on the Wrenwood Lodge.
It makes plenty of sense, and may very well be the catalyst for Grace discovering the braveness to face down her fears, spurred on by the hope of discovering a treatment for her mom’s situation and maybe working into Leon on the best way. Making the Stalker such an essential a part of the narrative may very well be a superb method for Requiem to boost the stakes and maybe assist Grace develop into greater than the fearful particular person she appears within the gameplay showcase.
9. Grace’s Potential Character Arc
Grace’s character may very well be an enormous a part of the story and gameplay in Requiem, with all proof pointing in the direction of a journey from the nerdy little lady she was within the story showcase to the terrified FBI investigator she is within the demo, to an eventual badass who takes the challenges in her method head on to aim saving Alyssa if she is certainly the Stalker.
On the gameplay entrance, taking part in in third-person sees her stumble and fall in worry as she flees the Stalker’s imposing presence, her worry and apprehension an nearly palpable a part of the expertise. That would change as she finds her footing, seeing her develop into more and more assured, if nonetheless just a little terrified concerning the threats she faces.
It may very well be the right approach to tie the narrative and gameplay collectively, making her the glue that brings all the expertise right into a cohesive entire.
10. Leon’s Continued Absence
Leon’s outstanding absence from any of the brand new promotional materials solely makes us extra assured that he stands tall among the many aces that the sport is holding up its sleeve, able to spring a really welcome shock on Requiem’s gamers in some unspecified time in the future throughout its story.
The time-frame of the narrative, coupled with Alyssa’s flashback and maybe even the pistol we talked about, is both intelligent foreshadowing on the studio’s half or a fully sensible try at misdirection.
For our half, we’re favoring the previous over the latter.
Bonus: A Playable Demo
It’s probably that the gameplay demo that was obtainable for testing at Gamescom 2025 may very well be made obtainable to gamers in some unspecified time in the future after PAX and the Tokyo Video games Present.
Whereas we’d hope that it’s considerably greater than twenty minutes and features a little extra of the sport, attending to expertise the Stalker’s pursuit for ourselves is actually one thing we wish to do!
And that’s a wrap on the whole lot new we’ve been capable of study or guess about Resident Evil Requiem. It’s going to be an extended wait till February 2026, however let’s hope that the sport continues to convey us new info to sink our enamel (pun meant) into.
