Resident Evil Requiem May Offer the Freedom of Choice, But There’s Clearly a Favorite Child

Lucky Gamescom attendees have gotten the chance to check out a hands-on preview of Resident Evil Requiem, and the teaser has offered a little taste of the horrors that await next year. Resident Evil Requiem has been one of the biggest announcements of the year, so far, and anticipation is now stronger than ever.

Resident Evil Requiem has confirmed several exciting features that are subverting expectations. A brand-new protagonist with Grace Ashcroft and the long-awaited return to Raccoon City are promising a compelling story, but one of the most intriguing features is the option to swap between first-person and third-person perspectives. Traditionally, the Resident Evil franchise has been a third-person series, but that all changed with the arrival of RE7. Now, Resident Evil Requiem aims to give players the best of both worlds, but based on the game’s various previews, it’s quickly becoming clear that first-person is still the preferred choice.

Resident Evil Requiem Allows Freedom of Choice, But First-Person Brings the Biggest Scares

• Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026.
• The game will be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Director Koshi Nakanishi Has a Soft Spot for First-Person Horror

Nakanishi was also the director of RE7, which set in motion the divisive switch to first-person. Back in 2017, when promoting RE7 in an interview with BBC, Nakanishi explained the reasoning behind the new perspective, stating, “The first-person perspective just seemed to be the right way to go in order to have a fresh-feeling, modern, immersive take on survival horror.” In the same interview, he adds, “I wanted to bring to this game the feeling of opening the door and not knowing what’s going to be on the other side.” There is still plenty of mystery surrounding Resident Evil Requiem, but it’s easy to conclude from the game’s trailers and sneak peeks that Nakanishi still holds that affinity for first-person over third-person.

Requiem Trailers Focus on First-Person

There have been snippets of third-person moments showcased, but overall, much of the gameplay has been shown through Grace’s own perspective. The setting of Requiem is far different from RE7, but what has been revealed of the former still boasts the sweat-inducing claustrophobia of the latter.

The cramped hallways of the Wrenwood Hotel and the Gamescom demo’s Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center feel far more oppressive when experienced in first-person. The stifled atmosphere combined with Resident Evil Requiem‘s horrifying new stalker enemy that lumbers through the halls really gets the heart rate elevated. Granted, this still looks terrifying in third-person, but first-person is bound to be the best way to experience each scare how it was truly intended to be felt.

Requiem’s Third-Person Maintains the Scares in a Clever Way

While first-person is easily the scariest option, those who prefer a third-person Resident Evil game will still get a solid dose of scares. When playing in third-person, Requiem features a trip mechanic that enhances the tension. As Grace tries to run away from the grotesque stalker, she can trip and fall, which adds an extra layer of dread to the perspective. So, while third-person is a safer option to keep one’s heart palpitations at bay, Requiem makes sure to still force players into a terrifying encounter.

Ultimately, it all boils down to a player’s preference, but for those who want to experience the game at its most terrifying, then first-person is likely to be the best option. Resident Evil Requiem could be a game-changer for the series, as it introduces a brand-new chapter and expands upon the lore of Raccoon City. Only time will tell, but as of now, Requiem is promising to be a terror-filled adventure.

Resident Evil Requiem

Released

February 27, 2026

Engine

RE Engine

PC Release Date

February 27, 2026

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

February 27, 2026

PS5 Release Date

February 27, 2026