Resident Evil 9: Why Capcom’s Return to Raccoon City Feels Risky and Exciting for Survival Horror

The second I saw Capcom announce Resident Evil Requiem at Summer Game Fest, a surge of classic survival horror nostalgia hit me-but let’s be real, a Return to Raccoon City comes with as much risk as reward. The ninth mainline Resident Evil outing isn’t just another sequel; it’s Capcom’s big play for the series’ 30th anniversary, and they’re daring to bring the saga full circle on modern consoles. But underneath the hype, there are some big questions about what this means for fans, fresh faces, and the future of survival horror design.

Resident Evil 9: Returning to Raccoon City Is Both a Nostalgia Play and a Gamble

• A new protagonist, but rooted in series lore: Grace Ashcroft steps in, connecting to Outbreak-era Resident Evil while hinting at crossovers-but can she break out from her mother’s shadow?
• Back to the bombed-out remains of Raccoon City: Capcom’s not just revisiting a classic setting; they’re reopening old wounds for die-hards, which could pay off or feel played out.
• First-person horror is here to stay: Requiem looks set to build directly on the tense, immersive gameplay of RE7 and Village.
• Mainline story dives into the Progenitor Virus: Expect series-deep lore-but is this for long-term fans, or can newcomers jump in?

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Capcom
Release Date	February 27, 2026
Genres	Survival Horror, Adventure
Platforms	PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Let’s start with the facts: Resident Evil 9 (officially “Requiem”) lands February 27, 2026—dead-on for the franchise’s 30th anniversary. The big headline is a return to Raccoon City, that infamously doomed sprawl we last saw evaporated in RE3. Capcom’s decision to send us back to those streets isn’t just a gimmick: it’s an open bet that fans want to confront the past, literally and figuratively.

The first trailer, revealed at Summer Game Fest, offers almost no gameplay, but it sets the tone: haunted hotels, a new heroine in Grace Ashcroft, and plenty of shadowy Umbrella-esque intrigue. It’s got all the visual hallmarks of recent RE engine games—the cinematic lighting, grime, and that feeling that you’ll regret every step into the unknown. But as someone who’s clocked more hours in Spencer Mansion and the Baker house than I care to count, I’m both intrigued and wary.

Grace is an interesting pivot. She’s the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft (Resident Evil Outbreak), so Capcom’s reaching deep into the lore bin. Linking Requiem to Outbreak is a sly nod for co-op fans, though it seems clear this will mostly echo the modern solo-focused Resident Evil formula. The trailer’s heavy on dramatic setup—mysterious threats, blood rituals, even Grace strapped to an ominous gurney—but light on concrete mechanics or new ideas. I’m seeing all the classic Resident Evil beats: isolating environments, cryptic puzzles, and that gnawing sense of evil under new management.

There’s one thing Capcom gets right: sticking to first-person for Requiem. After RE7 and Village, that’s where the series feels scariest and most intimate. There’s no sign of an RE4-style over-the-shoulder switch-up. If anything, the series finally seems comfortable doubling down on what’s worked recently, and that focus probably means more sharply tuned scares, not bloated setpieces.

What’s up in the air is how much this is for the old, core fans versus a new generation. Old-schoolers get the familiar tragedy of Raccoon City, but can that setting deliver real surprises, or is Capcom risking creative stagnation for nostalgia? The Progenitor Virus is getting serious plot focus again—and for lore hounds, that’s catnip. But new players may find themselves lost in the weeds unless the narrative manages a clean reset.

Another open question: who’s the big bad in Requiem? We see a hooded figure lurking, but if Capcom can resist the urge to resurrect yet another Wesker, it could actually refresh the stakes. Resident Evil always teeters between clever reinvention and soapy self-parody, so this is a critical moment. RE9 has to bring something fresh to the table beyond “it’s dark and the zombies are scarier now.”

I’m not alone in feeling that Capcom’s last decade—between smart remakes and the risk-taking RE7—earned them some trust, but also raised expectations. The danger is stagnation: as much as I love a good throwback, the real win would be a game that pays homage to Raccoon City while pushing the survival horror formula forward. If Requiem just remixes greatest hits, it’ll feel like a missed opportunity.

What Resident Evil Requiem Means for Gamers

If you’re a series veteran, this is the moment you’ve hoped for—a trip back to the city that started it all, with Capcom finally owning its legacy. For newcomers, it could be overwhelming unless the story works as a true jumping-on point. The real question for everyone is: Can Capcom balance nostalgia with innovation? Requiem’s mixture of deep lore, grungy horror, and first-person thrills is a heady one, but we’ve seen big studios stumble when they start circling their own history too tightly.

I’ll be watching for the first extended gameplay—if Capcom can reinvent while respecting the DNA of Resident Evil, Requiem could cement the series’ modern legacy. If not, it’s proof even legendary zombies can get stuck going in circles. Hopeful, yet keeping that classic Resident Evil skepticism handy—you never know what’s lurking beneath the surface.

TL;DR

Resident Evil 9: Requiem sends us back to Raccoon City for the series’ 30th anniversary, dangling both nostalgia and risk. With a new protagonist and a first-person focus, Capcom’s betting on a blend of old-school lore and modern survival horror design. Whether it’s a true homecoming or just recycling the undead, only time—and real gameplay—will tell if this is a triumph or a tired retread.