Long-rumored, Resident Evil Requiem was finally revealed to the public during Summer Game Fest through a trailer that blew everyone’s minds. Set against a backdrop of a ruined Raccoon City, Capcom is taking players back to where it all began, with an all-new protagonist that features a callback to a past title.

During Summer Game Fest 2025, we were treated to the first-ever hands-off preview of Resident Evil Requiem, showing off 30 minutes of demo gameplay captured from a PS5 Pro of this horrific installment that’s been a long time coming. It is insanely scary and very much worthy of all the hype, and that’s just 30 minutes.

Resident Evil Requiem Preview

Resident Evil Requiem, the latest entry in the iconic survival horror franchise, immediately reminds us of the terror of Resident Evil 7 in all the right ways. Continuing the first-person perspective of 7 and Village, Requiem delivers an oppressive atmosphere, elevated by enhanced visuals and masterful lighting. Unlike Village, which leaned more into action, Requiem dials up the fear factor considerably, with limited visibility making navigating corners a nerve-wracking experience, and the ever-present tension keeps players on edge.

In Resident Evil Requiem, players will take control of Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak. Picking up from the trailer, Grace awakens to find herself restrained, her blood being extracted as she struggles to escape. The demo showcases a rainy hospital setting, with flashes of lightning briefly bringing light to its dark hallways. Director Koshi Nakanishi set out to create an unpredictable and addictive sense of fear, and from what we’ve seen, the development team has succeeded in spades.

Grace is unlike past Resident Evil protagonists with great physical abilities, as she’s an FBI agent with keen investigative instincts. Whether her physical limitations, such as reduced stamina or lower health, impact gameplay remains unclear. During the demo, she is seen navigating dark hallways and corridors, and the atmosphere is enough to give players a scare.

Traditional Resident Evil puzzles, such as locating fuses to restore power or using rotating boxes to uncover an extra interaction with an item, make a return. Familiar elements such as locked doors requiring specific keys, revisiting areas for essential items, and makeshift environmental interactions remain central to exploration.

Much of Resident Evil Requiem’s dread stems from its meticulous sound design. Grace’s labored breathing conveys urgency and vulnerability, while the unsettling quiet amplifies seemingly minor sounds, echoing footsteps, and creaking doors. All of these conspire to heighten the paranoia, giving players the constant feeling that something lurks nearby.

Grace has a few tools at her disposal to aid her survival. The demo introduces a lighter, with its dim range barely lighting her path. An empty bottle can also be picked up, suggesting a potential distraction mechanic to mislead enemies. No weapons were shown for now, and that’s probably reserved for another reveal, for maybe another playable character?

This helplessness and lack of tools to deal with threats reaches fever pitch as a towering grandma-like monster starts chasing Grace around, reminding us of the Baby in House Beneviento and Lady Dimitrescu. Its damage is deadly, and during the demo, Grace needed to heal using a syringe to get back in shape before retreating to a nearby room after getting bitten in the shoulder. While the monster didn’t chase into the room, there were holes in the ceiling through which it retreated. Again, unclear whether this monster will be a persistent threat similar to Mr. X, so we’ll have to wait for more information from Capcom about this.

Toward the end of the demo, an unexpected twist was revealed. Resident Evil Requiem features an option to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives on the fly, a mechanic first introduced in Resident Evil Village’s Winters Expansion DLC. While the demo ended shortly after showcasing this feature, it promises to offer players a fresh approach to gameplay and a choice that will cater to both first and third person enjoyers.

That said, 99% of the demo was played in first-person mode, which definitely heightened the tension of not being able to see your immediate surroundings. We’ve yet to see how the third-person perspective plays out, but if Resident Evil Village was any indication, then we’re in for a good ride.

Based on what we’ve seen, Resident Evil Requiem is poised to be one of the franchise’s scariest installments yet. Building upon the foundation of Resident Evil 7, it pushes the boundaries of terror with its immersive visuals, tense moments, and unpredictable encounters. We can’t wait to see more of it in the coming months leading up to its launch next year.

Resident Evil Requiem will be available on February 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.