Resident Evil Showcase Returns January 16 with 12 Minutes of Requiem Gameplay

Capcom has officially announced the next Resident Evil Showcase, and this one is all about Requiem. The digital broadcast drops on January 16, 2026 at 7:00 AM JST (that's 5:00 PM EST on January 15 for those of us in the West), promising 12 minutes of pure survival horror goodness.

I still remember the first time Resident Evil truly got under my skin. It was 1996, I was a teenager, and I had just gotten my hands on Resident Evil for the PlayStation 1. There I was, midnight, lights completely off, sitting way too close to a massive CRT television. That opening door creak, the first zombie turning its head... man, nothing in gaming has ever quite matched that moment of pure dread. Nearly three decades later, the franchise is still finding new ways to terrify us.

What to Expect from the Showcase

The showcase will dive deep into Resident Evil Requiem, highlighting what Capcom is calling a "dual experience" approach. On one side, you have FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, whose sections promise the kind of trembling, cowering horror that made the series famous. Think RE2 Remake vibes: puzzles, backtracking, and monsters that make you genuinely afraid to turn corners.

Then there's Leon S. Kennedy, the veteran agent we've all grown up with since Raccoon City. His chapters flip the script entirely, delivering exhilarating action sequences in the style of RE4 Remake. Chainsaw attacks, martial arts, military tomahawks, the works.

Grace and Leon: Two Sides of Survival Horror

What makes Requiem fascinating is how it balances these two distinct gameplay styles. According to the developers, the game follows one unified story but alternates between Grace and Leon's perspectives. The split is roughly 50/50, similar to how Resident Evil Revelations handled its dual protagonist system.

The design philosophy is intentional. After intense horror sequences with Grace, Leon's action-heavy chapters act as a release valve. One producer described it as "repeatedly jumping into a cold bath after a hot sauna," which honestly sounds like the perfect way to structure a survival horror experience.

Leon's New Challenge

Despite being the "strongest" version of Leon we've seen, the developers promise he'll face unprecedented challenges in Requiem. This isn't just another day at the office for the veteran agent. The game pushes him to his absolute limits, exploring what happens when even the most battle-hardened survivor hits a wall.

There's also the matter of Leon returning to Raccoon City, his origin point. How does a man who's seen everything react when forced to confront where it all began? That's one of the major story beats Capcom is teasing.

Release Details

Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026, marking the franchise's 30th anniversary year. The game hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and Epic Games Store simultaneously.

For more information and to watch the showcase live, check the official Resident Evil website.

Game Information