Resident Evil Requiem Is Taking a Page from the Most Controversial Game in the Series, and It Is a Brilliant Move

The highly anticipated upcoming title, Resident Evil Requiem (also known as Resident Evil 9), is poised to be one of the most ambitious games in the franchise’s history. While official details from Capcom have been scarce since its reveal at Summer Game Fest 2025, a series of recent leaks have painted a fascinating picture of what fans can expect. One of the most shocking and intriguing details is the game’s alleged decision to take inspiration from the most controversial and polarizing game in the series: Resident Evil 6. While that game was criticized for its over-the-top action and cinematic style, Requiem’s homage to it, particularly in its level design and gameplay mechanics, is not a step back. Instead, it is a brilliant move that demonstrates Capcom’s commitment to evolving the series while honoring its past.

The alleged leak, which comes from a source with a proven track record for Resident Evil information, suggests that Resident Evil Requiem will be an open-level game set in a ruined, post-apocalyptic Raccoon City. This is a massive departure from the tight, claustrophobic corridors of recent games like Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village. Furthermore, the leak claims that players will be able to traverse these large areas using a vehicle, possibly a motorbike. This move, which at first glance seems to echo the large-scale, action-heavy approach of Resident Evil 6, is actually a strategic and exciting evolution for the series. It’s the “cherry on top” of a game that is already promising to be a definitive conclusion to a decade-spanning saga.

From Linear Action to Open-World Horror

The main criticism of Resident Evil 6 was that it abandoned the survival horror roots of the franchise in favor of a cinematic, third-person shooter experience. The game was a chaotic, globe-trotting adventure with multiple protagonists, each with their own campaign. While the game was a commercial success, it was a critical failure, and its reception led Capcom to drastically pivot back to a first-person horror perspective for Resident Evil 7. However, what many people forget is that Resident Evil 6 experimented with some fascinating concepts, most notably the scale and variety of its environments. One of its campaigns featured large, open areas with dynamic combat and a sense of constant, unfolding disaster.

The rumored direction of Resident Evil Requiem seems to be taking that concept and applying it to a pure survival horror context. Instead of a series of linear action set pieces, the open-level design of Raccoon City will create a terrifying, non-linear experience. Players will be able to explore the city at their own pace, but the ever-present threat of the stalker monster will ensure that the tension never lets up. The inclusion of a vehicle isn’t for racing and cinematic spectacle; it’s for survival. It’s a tool for escape, a means of avoiding overwhelming threats, and a way to navigate the game’s expansive map. This is not about being a super-powered action hero; it’s about a player being a vulnerable survivor in a massive, hostile environment. It’s a twist on the Resident Evil 6 formula that turns its greatest flaw into a strength.

A Last of Us-Inspired Combat System for Leon Kennedy?

The leaks also hint at a dual-protagonist system, featuring a new character, Grace Ashcroft, and a returning fan-favorite, Leon S. Kennedy. The most exciting detail is that Leon’s gameplay will reportedly be inspired by The Last of Us Part II. This suggests a stealth-heavy, methodical, and brutal combat system that is a far cry from the superhuman roundhouse kicks and boulder-punching of Resident Evil 6. This is a mature, grounded approach that would provide a compelling contrast to the more traditional survival horror gameplay of the new protagonist. By borrowing from a modern masterpiece of action and storytelling, Capcom is not just remaking the past; it is re-imagining the role of its iconic characters within a new gameplay context.

The idea of a more vulnerable, humanized Leon S. Kennedy, who has to rely on stealth and tactical combat to survive, is an incredible evolution for the character. It provides a way to make a veteran character feel fresh and terrifying again. This move, combined with the open-level design, suggests a game with an incredible sense of scale and ambition. The game is not trying to be a direct sequel to Resident Evil 6, but a spiritual successor to its ideas, filtered through a lens of modern survival horror design.

Conclusion: A Final Hurrah for the Numbered Series

According to the leaks, Resident Evil Requiem is set to be the final numbered title in the series, serving as a conclusion to the legacy of Umbrella and Raccoon City. This is an enormous undertaking, and to pull it off, Capcom needs to deliver a game that is both a love letter to the franchise’s past and a bold step into the future. By taking inspiration from the most controversial title in the series and reimagining its ideas, Resident Evil Requiem is poised to be a definitive final chapter. It’s a game that will likely be remembered not just for its scares, but for its audacity. The “cherry on top” is that this bold, new direction is being built on the very foundations of the past, proving that even a game with a bad reputation can still inspire greatness.