Grace Ashcroft Stars as Lead in Resident Evil Requiem's Raccoon City Return

Director Koshi Nakanishi announces Grace Ashcroft as the central figure in Resident Evil Requiem, unveiling a fresh chapter for the franchise. Discover the game's focus and its innovative perspective-switching feature.

Grace Ashcroft Takes the Lead

Latest on Resident Evil Requiem

Step aside, Leon—Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) introduces Grace Ashcroft as its new protagonist, as confirmed by director Koshi Nakanishi. In a private video shared with platinum Resident Evil Ambassadors, reported by Neon Slice, Nakanishi named Ashcroft as the "new main character" for RE9.

Revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025, Resident Evil Requiem stunned fans with its return to Raccoon City. While many anticipated the return of series veteran Leon Kennedy, the trailer spotlighted Grace Ashcroft as the sole playable character.

No official word confirms Leon's involvement in RE9. Fans remain hopeful for his appearance, but Nakanishi stressed that Grace will drive the narrative, with deep ties to the Resident Evil universe.

Revisiting Raccoon City

The RE9 trailer, showcasing Raccoon City, left fans eager to see how the story unfolds. Nakanishi revealed the game is set 30 years after Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, where a thermobaric strike leveled the city.

Nakanishi boldly claimed RE9 will outshine his earlier works, including Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Revelations, both cherished for their survival horror roots and rich storytelling.

Capcom's website promises that RE9’s return to Raccoon City will usher in "a new era of survival horror," blending nostalgia with fresh terror.

Dynamic Perspective Switching

RE9 introduces a groundbreaking feature for the series, allowing players to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives at any time via the options menu, as revealed in a June 11 IGN live demo.

Early Resident Evil titles (RE1, RE2, RE3) relied on fixed camera angles, shifting as players moved through rooms. RE4 popularized the third-person view, setting a precedent for later games.

After action-heavy titles, Capcom embraced first-person for RE7 and RE8 to heighten immersion and horror. RE8’s DLC experimented with a third-person option, but RE9 fully integrates both perspectives in one seamless experience.

With a release date set for February 27, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, fans await further details, particularly on whether Leon Kennedy or other iconic characters will appear. Stay tuned for updates in our article below!