Resident Evil Requiem was almost live service, but Capcom realized we'd hate it

Resident Evil Requiem is arriving next year and last night's Capcom Spotlight gave us a slightly longer look at this much-anticipated title. Featuring a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, this single-player survival horror game will send players back to the ruins of Raccoon City. However, as revealed by its developers, Resident Evil Requiem was almost an online, live-service game in the vein of Resident Evil Re:Verse and other disappointments.

We were recently musing how it'd be a mistake for Resident Evil Requiem to bring back zombies, but Capcom came close to making an even bigger blunder. The developer has revealed that, prior to making it a single-player offline horror game, they were considering making it a live-service game.

This revelation comes from a supplementary video on Capcom's Resident Evil portal. "You might have some of the rumours, things like an online Resident Evil or an open-world Resident Evil, which we spent some time experimenting with," explains director Koshi Nakanishi.

However, they decided against either approach. "We realised it wasn't what fans wanted to see or play," he adds. That was a wise move. We can't see an open world Resident Evil working, and Capcom has a poor track record when it comes to multiplayer Resident Evil games.

It's true that Resident Evil Requiem protagonist Grace Ashcroft is the daughter of one of the characters from Resident Evil Outbreak, a PS2-based co-op title. But virtually every Resident Evil multiplayer game since has been a let down.

Most recently, Resident Evil Re:Verse, Capcom's latest microtransaction-heavy effort, was removed from Steam. The last thing we need is another live-service Resident Evil. Right now, the best way to experience Resident Evil as a team is through Dead by Daylight's Resident Evil Chapter.

The Resident Evil Requiem team also revealed that the game has more in common with Resident Evil 7 than it does Resident Evil Village. Capcom is making a concerted effort to replicate the former's fear factor which, at the time, was just the shot in the arm the series needed.

Resident Evil Requiem releases this Friday, February 27, 2026. While you're waiting for it to arrive, our round-up of the best PC games will show you what you might have missed. And if you're wondering what else is on the way, here are the upcoming PC games for 2025 and beyond.

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