Capcom’s 12-minute showcase proves Resident Evil Requiem is worth the wait: here are my five key takeaways
I'll be there day one, I promise
· TechRadarFeatures By Isaiah Williams published 16 January 2026
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Capcom promised fans a Resident Evil Showcase focused on Resident Evil Requiem, after its major Leon S. Kennedy reveal in the third trailer at The Game Awards 2025. While there is still plenty more we don't know about the ninth instalment, the new reveals are enough to suggest Requiem could be the best in the franchise.
It's evident that Capcom wants to hold as much as possible to its chest regarding RE9's story, locations, and returning characters. We already know Leon will be returning to Raccoon City, and characters from Resident Evil Outbreak will appear in some form.
Fortunately, for the sake of no spoilers, it looks like we won't be seeing much more until launch on February 27, and I'll have to admit that I'm happy about that.
Admittedly, marketing for the game was very stale and slow before The Game Awards 2025, but after this year's Resident Evil Showcase, I'm more than satisfied with what Requiem has to offer – and several features that were revealed, and other omissions, that leave me incredibly antsy to get my hands on the game.
Note: this article contains a few images from the horror game series that some folks may find graphic.
1. Leon S. Kennedy's stylish melee finishers
After playing nearly 400 hours of the Resident Evil 4 remake, I must admit, I didn't think there would be any way for Capcom to level up Leon S. Kennedy and improve the beloved character's melee and general combat expertise. From roundhouse kicks, knife parries, and suplexes, RE4 features so much fun combat, contributing to its replay value.
Capcom must've looked at RE4 and said, 'no, that's not enough,' because every single second of Leon's gameplay reveal was filled with jaw-dropping action, possibly some of the most brutal and stylish melee I've seen in the entire series so far.
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