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Resident Evil Requiem Showcase: Leon’s Chainsaw, Blood Crafting, Feb 27 Launch

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By TGT Staff

Capcom held its Resident Evil Showcase on January 15, 2026, delivering gameplay footage and details for Resident Evil Requiem, the next mainline entry in the survival horror franchise. Director Koshi Nakanishi and producer Masato Kumazawa presented roughly 12 minutes of content focused on dual protagonists Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy, alongside merchandise collaborations and platform confirmations.

The showcase confirmed February 27, 2026 as the global release date across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Gameplay demonstrations revealed distinct playstyles for each character, new crafting mechanics using infected blood, and the return of ink ribbon saving in Classic difficulty. Limited-edition Hamilton watches for both protagonists were announced at 2,000 units each, releasing alongside the game.

Resident Evil Requiem
January 2026 Showcase Breakdown
🎮 Launches February 27, 2026
⚙️
Three Difficulty Modes
Casual with aim assist, Standard, and Classic with ink ribbon saves
🎭
Switchable Perspectives
Play in first-person or third-person for both characters
🧪
Infected Blood Crafting
Harvest blood from zombies to create survival items
🧟
Behavioral Zombies
Undead retain personality traits from their former lives

Dual Protagonist System

Two distinct gameplay approaches to survival horror

Grace Ashcroft
FBI Analyst | Survival Horror
  • Limited combat experience creates vulnerability
  • Slow-paced exploration with scarce ammunition
  • Wields “Requiem” large-caliber assault revolver
  • Avoidance prioritized over direct confrontation
  • Investigating her mother Alyssa’s murder
  • Gameplay mirrors RE2 and RE7 tension
Leon S. Kennedy
DSO Agent | Action Combat
  • Veteran agent with tactical combat skills
  • Hatchet-based parry system replaces knife
  • Disarm enemies to steal their weapons
  • Chainsaw acquisition after successful parries
  • Strategic limb targeting for crowd control
  • Similar pacing to RE4 Remake combat

Arsenal Details

Signature weapons and mechanics

🔫 “Requiem” Revolver
Grace’s Primary Weapon
  • Large-caliber assault revolver design
  • Limited ammunition capacity
  • High-impact rounds for emergency situations
  • Symbolic connection to game title
  • Used to eliminate threats for blood harvesting
🪓 Combat Hatchet
Leon’s Melee Tool
  • Replaces traditional combat knife mechanics
  • Parry function identical to RE4 Remake knife
  • Self-sharpenable without merchant dependency
  • Durability maintenance through manual sharpening
  • Enables weapon theft from stunned enemies
⛓️ Chainsaw
Stolen Enemy Weapon
  • Acquired from chainsaw-wielding enemies
  • Requires successful parry to disarm wielder
  • High damage output for crowd control
  • Limited fuel/durability mechanics expected
  • First time Leon can use this iconic weapon

Difficulty Options

Tailored challenge levels for different playstyles

Casual
Story-focused mode with accessibility features for players prioritizing narrative over challenge.
✓ Aim assist function enabled
Standard
Balanced modern survival horror experience matching current franchise expectations.
✓ Traditional resource scarcity
Standard (Classic)
Standard difficulty with vintage save system requiring resource management decisions.
✓ Ink ribbons required for typewriter saves (Grace only)

Five Major Announcements

Expand each section for full details

1
Infected Blood Crafting System
▼
Resident Evil Requiem introduces a crafting mechanic requiring infected blood harvested from defeated zombies. Despite Grace’s reluctance to engage in combat, she must use her Requiem revolver to eliminate threats and collect this material for creating survival tools. One demonstrated concoction involves an injectable compound that causes zombies to explode when administered to their neck, providing a tactical option for crowd control. This system balances combat avoidance with the necessity of resource gathering.
2
Zombies With Residual Humanity
▼
The infected in Requiem retain behavioral patterns from their pre-transformation lives. Gameplay footage showed a custodian zombie continuing to clean windows while ignoring Grace, and another infected individual obsessively pushing elevator buttons. The showcase also teased a zombie engaging in what appears to be coherent dialogue with Grace, suggesting a different virus variant than previous games. These behavioral quirks create strategic opportunities for players to observe and exploit zombie routines rather than engaging every threat directly.
3
Leon’s Expanded Combat Options
▼
Leon trades his signature combat knife for a hatchet that maintains identical parry functionality to the RE4 Remake while adding self-maintenance capabilities through manual sharpening. The showcase demonstrated Leon parrying a chainsaw-wielding enemy, executing them, and claiming the chainsaw for his own use. Strategic dismemberment returns with enhanced focus on targeting specific body parts like kneecaps to stun zombies before delivering finishing blows. This expanded arsenal provides multiple tactical approaches to Leon’s action-heavy sections.
4
Classic Ink Ribbon Saves Return
▼
Standard (Classic) difficulty reintroduces ink ribbon saving mechanics exclusively for Grace’s gameplay sections. Players must locate and conserve ink ribbons to create save points at typewriters, adding resource management pressure to an already tense experience. Casual difficulty removes this restriction while including aim assist functionality, and Standard difficulty provides modern checkpoint-style saving. The three-tier system accommodates both accessibility preferences and veteran players seeking traditional survival horror challenges.
5
The Elpis Secret
▼
The showcase concluded with cryptic references to “Elpis,” a secret Leon carries potentially connected to Grace’s mother Alyssa’s murder. Speculation links this to zombie bite marks visible on Leon throughout promotional materials. The Greek word “elpis” translates to “hope,” suggesting possible connections to a cure, experimental virus, or deeper conspiracy within the narrative. Leon’s dialogue references needing “a second opinion,” indicating medical or scientific implications. Learn more about recent gaming announcements and upcoming releases.

Missing Demo Raises Questions

Where’s the playable demo?
The showcase dedicated significant time to merchandise collaborations including Hamilton watches limited to 2,000 units per model, character figurines, special edition controllers, and upcoming orchestra concerts. However, Capcom did not announce a pre-release demo, which would mark the first mainline Resident Evil entry in decades without one if this continues through launch.
Stay updated on gaming developments at The Game Tribune and explore industry news.

Platform Availability

PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
PC
Nintendo Switch 2

The January 15, 2026 Resident Evil Showcase provided gameplay demonstrations and release information for Resident Evil Requiem. The presentation covered dual protagonist mechanics, difficulty options, crafting systems, and platform confirmations alongside merchandise collaborations.

Resident Evil Requiem releases February 27, 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. The showcase material was presented by director Koshi Nakanishi and producer Masato Kumazawa. Additional information about gaming industry developments remains available through ongoing coverage.

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