Resident Evil Requiem Trailer Reveals Big Connections To A Spinoff

Capcom dropped a bombshell of a Resident Evil trailer, with the entry now called Resident Evil Requiem and seems to take players back to one of its most iconic locations: Raccoon City. Not only that, the game apparently stars Grace Ashcroft – an FBI technical analyst whose investigation into a string of deaths connected to a mysterious disease has led her to the very same place where her mother was murdered.

While a protagonist forced to grow by confronting their past is a trope ground to death, Resident Evil 9 breathes it back into unlife with a surprising connection. And whether her mother’s death has had anything to do with the pathogen Grace is investigating may finally help tie the more modern titles of the series with its roots.

See the full trailer here:

Grace Ashcroft Is Alyssa Ashcroft’s Daughter

Who now has to confront her past

The Resident Evil 9 trailer opens with an unseeming busy workplace and a seemingly-ditzy girl being called into her superior’s office. Grace Ashcroft is apparently an FBI technical analyst, and her investigation into an “unknown disease” (typical) causing a string of deaths has led to another body. The thing is, the body was located in the same hotel where her mother was murdered eight years ago.

And the shocker for fans? Grace’s mother was none other than Alyssa Ashcroft – an investigative reporter present in the events of the Raccoon City Destruction Incident.

What Happened In Outbreak?

The events that sealed Umbrella’s fate

Although “official” reports state that Umbrella City’s survivors only comprised ex-STARS Jill Valentine, police rookie Leon Kennedy, and civilian Claire Redfield, the Resident Evil Outbreak titles reveal more civilians who got away just in time before the city’s demise. These co-op titles told the relatively “unknown” story of eight civilians, and how their private business at Jack’s Bar will become everyone else’s as they are thrust into the ongoing T-Virus outbreak.

Both Outbreak and Outbreak: File #2 are comprised of different scenarios occurring inside and on the outskirts of Raccoon City. While most of the games’ characters are seemingly-ordinary civilians, two stand out: former Umbrella employee Yoko Suzuki, as well as reporter Alyssa Ashcroft. Whereas Yoko testified against Umbrella Corporation after outbreak, Alyssa attempted to write an article about her experience in order to expose Umbrella – something the government quickly dismissed as fiction.

What Could Have Been The Motive About Alyssa’s Murder?

Her ambition may have been her downfall

No one knows (yet) whether Alyssa’s death may have been the driving force for Grace to train as an FBI analyst, but chances are high for Alyssa to have been investigating something that had forced the hand of “higher powers.” The last fans have heard of Alyssa would be her coverage of “mysterious disappearances” in Dulvey Parish, Louisiana – events that would directly tie into Resident Evil 7’s Baker Island Incident.

With Alyssa being introduced in Outbreak as an ambitious reporter already investigating illegal human trials conducted in Arklay Mountains (and her article post-Raccoon City), it’s no surprise if Alyssa made the connection between the Dulvey disappearances into a bioterror event. And considering how Chris was sent to help Ethan at the end of RE7 and the Resident Evil veteran’s frustration towards his work with the BSAA in RE Village, it’s possible Chris may have been the hooded figure in Grace’s recollection of Alyssa’s death.

If this is the case, then Chris may have been sent to “deal” with Alyssa and her potentially-compromising findings – an event that may have further led to his disillusionment to BSAA. This could very well be a totally new character, however, although the theory is plausible as Capcom has been sending Chris towards the distraught war veteran route.

What About Leon And Jill?

It’s not over yet for Fans of the OG

Although the Grace reveal pretty much quashes most rumors surrounding the upcoming title, fans can still hold out hope being able to play aged (although who are we kidding, they always look younger) versions of OGs like Jill Valentine and Leon Kennedy – especially when their most recent appearance involves a surprising tag team with fellow OGs Chris and Claire Redfield in 2023’s Death Island. 

Taking into consideration the way Resident Evil Village gave players a Chris segment alongside gameplay as Ethan Winters, there’s still a chance Resident Evil 9 can bring over another familiar protagonist to appeal to older fans. Story-wise, Ethan’s involvement with the parasitic Mold caught the attention of Blue Umbrella, which then brought in Chris Redfield who grew increasingly distraught with his anti-bioterrorism missions. As Requiem involves Grace and the FBI, there’s a chance Leon may enter the picture given his role as the President’s liaison for anti-bioterrorism affairs.

What We Know About Gameplay So Far

Return to first person, Raccoon City tease

Rumors back then involved Jill and/or Leon starring in an open-world multiplayer-esque setup that drastically contrasts the isolated horror of 2017’s Resident Evil 7. Some state this was a much older iteration of Resident Evil 9, and Grace’s return to the ruins of Raccoon City implies either a smaller navigable overworld (a la Resident Evil 3) or the contained space of RemWood Hotel (a la Resident Evil 7). 

Although shots in the Requiem trailer teased the same horrific nature of Resident Evil’s interior spaces, the framing does imply more close-up gameplay. It’s no surprise if Requiem will follow Village’s footsteps as a first-person title, and it would be interesting to see what changed in the ruins of Raccoon City should Grace ever have to outrun threats in its empty (?) streets. 

Resident Evil Requiem is being developed by Division 1 of Capcom, with a yet announced release date.