Resident Evil Requiem Is Not An Open-World Game According to Devs
The release of Resident Evil Requiem is just around the corner, and fans are too excited for this highly anticipated installment to the franchise. I mean, it’s not really surprising given all the hype this game has recieved since being announced last July during the Summer Games Fest. Capcom has pulled out all the stops, bringing us back to Raccoon City, bringing back fan-favorite character Leon, and making this installment one of the scariest games in the series.
The last couple of months have been a whirlwind of reveals for Resident Evil Requiem, as well as a breeding ground for rumors and speculation on what we can expect in this game. With the reveal of the new Raccon City, many fans speculated that this game would be an open-world concept, given the beautiful design of the map; however, the devs want to set the record straight. Here’s what they had to say about the topic.
Resident Evil Requiem Will Not Be Open-World
After Capcom released so many reveals on gameplay, characters, and the storyline, and introduced new gameplay mechanics not previously seen in Resident Evil games, like collecting ink ribbons just to save the game. Game Informer interviewed Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi about their experiences playing Resident Evil Requiem for three hours.
Nakanishi deep dives into the development processes for Grace and Leon’s separate and completely different playstyles, the introduction of new gameplay mechanics, the inspiration behind the design of many enemies, and, of course, Leon with a chainsaw. However, Nakanishi closes the interview explaining the game’s world and exploration, specifically as it relates to rumors of Requiem being an open-world Resident Evil. Here’s what Nakanishi had to say about the rumors:
“[The development team] did just want to make clear one point, they’ve seen some speculation of whether there’s any open world elements in the game, and they just want to set the record straight that this isn’t an open world game.”
“The main concept behind this game is combining the very different gameplay of Grace and Leon into a cohesive package, and having those two gameplays represent the Resident Evil series, and I think when you play the game, you realize that, or you will find as well that the development team picked the best approach to do this.”
Upcoming Release Just Around the Corner
Resident Evil Requiem is one of the most anticipated games coming out in 2026. There’s so much to expect from the game, given that Capcom has put a lot of effort into making a unique game within the Resident Evil franchise. The introduction of Grace as the main protagonist heightens the horror of Resident Evil Requiem, making this even scarier than Biohazard.
Bringing back Leon as a co-protagonist was an incredibly smart move on Capcom’s part. It hyped the game even moreconsidering he is a fan-favorite icon of the series, gave us an excuse to come back to the city that started it all, Raccoon City, giving us a full-circle moment merging old with new. It’s definitely excited long-time fans of the series, while bringing in new ones at the same time, which is such a cool thing to witness.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to launch on February 27, just a few weeks away. There are some pre-order bonuses that you can still collect if you pre-order either the Standard or Deluxe edition of the game. Resident Evil Requiem will be available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC on Steam. Capcom has definitely got people excited, and I also can’t wait to be able to experience the game when it releases.
