Happy endings are few and far between in the Resident Evil universe, but Requiem seems to be a major exception. Without delving into spoilers, the good guys effectively won, and the so-called “secret” of Raccoon City – including the quarantine that’s seemingly been ongoing since it was bombed – was revealed to all and sundry.
That doesn’t mean there weren’t a fair number of loose ends, though, and you’d think the development team would address some of those in the upcoming paid expansion. However, in keeping with rumors that it’s going for a much more ambitious scope, one story aspect has seemingly been confirmed by none other than writer Haris Orkin. During Meadowlark Comic Con, he revealed that he’s working on Requiem’s DLC.
While discussing how he writes villains, thinking they’re the “good guys” in their stories, he brought up Oswell E. Spencer. “We have an arc for Spencer in Requiem. Where you understand [that approach] more.” Which sounds all well and good, but then he added. “In the DLC you will understand it even further. I probably shouldn’t say that, but yeah.”
If his trepidation didn’t give it away enough, this is a pretty big drop. After all, the developer hasn’t announced any details about the expansion, save for it being in development. When is it taking place, who does it focus on, the release date, the title – nothing, zilch, nada. So hearing that players will understand Spencer’s arc all the more in this new tale is a bombshell, especially when we’re starving for new information.
But why? Well, to explain that, we’ll have to delve into slight spoilers for Requiem, primarily surrounding Elpis. If you haven’t completed the game yet, turn back now.
It’s already known that Spencer created Elpis, and Gideon, who works with The Connections alongside Zeno, a “high-ranking member” possessing superhuman speed and strength similar to Wesker, believes Grace is the key. However, upon further investigation, we learn that Elpis isn’t a new bioweapon but rather an antiviral. It turns out that Spencer created it to atone for his terrible actions throughout the years – from overseeing the creation of the t-Virus which would result in millions of casualties, to the cover-ups and foul experiments that resulted in all kinds of terrifying bio-organic weapons. And that’s not even getting into his legacy, which created offshoots and other groups vying for power.
For many, it was rather surprising. Here was Spencer, one of Umbrella’s founders – a man known for his ruthlessness and cutting down anyone who posed the slightest threat to his position, suddenly seeking redemption. And he didn’t just create any run-of-the-mill antiviral. Elpis can effectively inoculate against any bioweapon, rendering it useless and effectively shaking up the world order.
From that perspective, it makes sense to delve into the “why” behind his decision, but I don’t think this means we’ll necessarily venture back in time. Instead, the expansion’s story could use a conspicuous – and highly requested – returning location to outline his path: Arklay Mansion.
AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem, a insider who’s been fairly reliable with Resident Evil reports, offered several claims about what Requiem’s DLC could offer. It’s been alleged that Arklay Mansion – better known as Spencer Mansion and serving as the setting for the first Resident Evil – was meant to appear in Requiem in some form. Which would make sense – if it’s a requiem for Raccoon City and victims of the Destruction Incident, then revisiting an iconic location that’s tied so intrinsically to the same would make sense.
And while eventually scrapped from the base game, the development team didn’t completely abandon the idea. Instead, it reportedly decided to repurpose the location for the DLC. Since a new Resident Evil 1 remake is seemingly in the works, despite being a long way off, the company is keen on nailing down an “RE Engine version of the manor,” per Dusk Golem.
Perhaps the expansion sees Leon venture into the location to investigate something, and discover more information on Spencer’s quest for redemption. Maybe there are more clues on Grace, and what ultimately led to the creation of Elpis. Dare we even suggest that some part of the Red Queen is present, conducting foul experiments no one has been aware of for the past several years? Which would sound far-fetched, but hey, shocking retcons have happened before in the franchise (including in Requiem).
Of course, there are several other claims about the DLC besides Leon having the starring role. Ada Wong is “very likely” included; it apparently involves several developers who worked on Separate Ways DLC Remake DLC (which would back up the rumors about it being more ambitious). And if their reputability should be called into question, they revealed that Leon would be a secondary protagonist in Requiem long before it was official.
But when talking about how it’s “ambitious,” Dusk Golem says it’s more in the sense of offering a meatier experience – about four to six hours of gameplay – and “fun” for those who “want more content like RE side stories.” It’s also meant to respond to feedback from Requiem, though whether that applies purely to the plot or the gameplay – which has been roundly praised – remains to be seen.
So while we could very well delve into Spencer’s story, it’s likely that several other questions remain unanswered, like Zeno’s identity. That said, the development team has been slowly integrating the remakes into the main timeline. Changes from Resident Evil 2 remake have morphed into significant plot alterations in Separate Ways Remake, further leading to retcons in Requiem. It wouldn’t be surprising, then, if it uses these side stories to flesh things out and add more substance without bogging down the main game.
Of course, the supposed goal of these expansions is to keep the Resident Evil content cycle flowing. Requiem’s DLC is reportedly launching in late 2027, which may seem ridiculous with how long the base game would have been out. But you also need to consider how the series has been a long-term seller, especially in the wake of the latest live-action film. Requiem has also been the fastest-selling in the franchise, and you can bet that fans will take any opportunity to play as Leon in a brand-new adventure.
The real question is whether these plot elements could also be expanded upon in Resident Evil Veronica when it launches next year, especially given the changes we’ve seen thus far. And then how these will factor into its alleged expansion – because yes, it’s also apparently getting one – ahead of Resident Evil 1 remake’s rumored release. There could be an opportunity for some major adjustments to the story as we know it, and perhaps even Spencer’s backstory as a whole, if the development team is bold enough, though that will also depend on its plans for the next mainline Resident Evil.
For now, however, the wait continues for Requiem’s expansion and the potential twists and turns that await. The franchise isn’t getting any less popular, and to its credit, the development team is in tune with what fans want to see. It’s just a matter of keeping this run going and delivering even more while taking enough time to get it right.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.
