Resident Evil Requiem preorders are live — here’s what actually matters for gamers

Resident Evil Requiem preorders are open – but should you bite?

Resident Evil Requiem just went up for physical preorder across PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and the long-rumored Nintendo Switch 2 with a February 27, 2026 release date. Listings are hovering around €79.99 on PS5/Xbox and €69.99 on Switch 2, and there’s still no official box art. That combo – early preorders, premium pricing, missing art – immediately caught my attention. We’re clearly at the “lock in the hype” stage of the marketing cycle, but what’s the real play here for fans?

• Capcom is lining up a day-and-date launch across all major platforms, including Switch 2, which is a big swing for the RE Engine on Nintendo hardware.
• Prices are creeping up: PS5/Xbox are listed near €80, while Switch 2 sits lower at around €70. Expect regional variance on PC.
• New lead Grace Ashcroft ties the story back to Raccoon City — a smart move that risks leaning too hard on nostalgia.
• Preorders are early, bonuses are vague, and the “official” marketing (like box art) isn’t fully in place yet.

Breaking down the announcement

Capcom says Requiem is the next mainline entry — effectively RE9 — and features FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft investigating a creepy, abandoned hotel with direct connections to the Raccoon City incident. That premise is classic Resident Evil: new protagonist, contained nightmare space, and lore hooks big enough for a Tyrant to stroll through. What’s new is the promise of first-person or third-person play, a dual perspective approach that’s been an evolving identity crisis for the series since RE7 reinvented the formula and RE4 Remake doubled down on over-the-shoulder excellence.

From a tech perspective, Capcom’s RE Engine has been a monster performer on PS5/Xbox/PC. The Switch 2 listing is the eyebrow-raiser. Historically, Resident Evil on Switch has been a mix of cloud versions and older ports. If Requiem lands natively on Switch 2 without cloud crutches and holds 60 FPS with decent resolution, that’s a quiet revolution for handheld horror — and a huge statement about Switch 2’s horsepower. If it’s compromised (or quietly pivots to cloud), expect the community to pounce.

Pricing reality check

The prices currently floating around match the industry’s new “standard” — which is to say, higher. €79.99 on PS5/Xbox is becoming the baseline for tentpole releases, while Switch 2 landing around €69.99 looks a hair gentler but still premium. PC pricing varies by region, but don’t be shocked if it trends lower than consoles at launch; we’ve seen that dance before.

Here’s my take as someone who’s bought too many steelbooks: absent a concrete collector’s edition, substantial preorder bonuses, or hard confirmation on performance targets, there’s no practical reason to lock in an €80 preorder this far out. Retailers will run promos. Regional imports sometimes undercut domestic pricing. And Capcom rarely fumbles optimization on the big three platforms, so waiting for technical previews and reviews is just smart consumer behavior.

What’s different this time (and what isn’t)

The choice between first- and third-person is the headliner. Best-case scenario, Capcom builds encounters and puzzle layouts that truly respect both play styles — no shoehorned animations or awkward FOV quirks in first-person, and no tight-corridor jank in third-person. Worst-case, one mode is clearly the “real” experience and the other feels like marketing icing. Given how polished Village and RE4 Remake felt in their native perspectives, this is doable, but it’s a heavy lift.

Story-wise, Grace Ashcroft’s FBI angle could refresh the series if Capcom avoids turning her into a lore delivery device. The Raccoon City link is irresistible fan bait, yet we’ve hit that well a lot. I’m hoping for new bioweapon nightmares and location design that isn’t just a haunted hotel greatest hits playlist. Show me something with the experimentation of the Baker Estate, the pacing of the Spencer Mansion, and the systemic detail we’re starting to see in modern survival horror.

The Switch 2 question mark

Listings name-check a Switch 2 version and even reference show-floor demos. If Capcom is confident enough to ship day-one on Nintendo’s next console, that’s a statement about target specs and the studio’s toolchain. The RE Engine is famously scalable, but scalability doesn’t guarantee parity. If you’re a handheld-first player, the big questions are obvious: resolution, frame rate, and feature parity (ray-tracing toggles, haptics, and whether any visual settings are quietly cut). Without those answers, I’d avoid preordering on Switch 2 specifically until Capcom shows raw gameplay with performance capture.

Should you preorder?

Short version: only if you’re banking on a limited edition or a retailer bonus you absolutely want. Otherwise, wait. It’s 2026. We’ve all learned the hard way that day-one hype isn’t a substitute for technical transparency. Capcom’s recent track record is strong — Resident Evil 2 Remake, 4 Remake, and Village are all bangers — but even great publishers have off days, and cross-platform launches amplify risk. Hold your wallet until we see final specs, footage from all platforms, and details beyond vague DLC trinkets.

Looking ahead

Requiem feels like Capcom trying to reconcile the series’ split identity: prestige third-person action horror versus intimate first-person dread. If they nail both modes and deliver a fresh lead with meaningful ties to the past, we’re in for something special. If not, we’ll get a well-made Resident Evil that plays it safe with lore — which, to be fair, still puts it above most horror releases. The preorders are live. The hype machine has started. Just keep your expectations trimmed until Capcom shows the goods.

TL;DR

Resident Evil Requiem is up for preorder for Feb 27, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series, PC, and Switch 2, with premium pricing and minimal concrete details. It looks promising, but unless there’s a must-have bonus, wait for platform-specific gameplay and performance info before dropping €70-€80.