Capcom’s strategic shift back to its horror roots, as seen in Resident Evil VII, has proven to be a resounding success. The survival horror franchise not only rekindled the passion of longtime fans but also became one of the company’s most reliable avenues for record-breaking profits. Behind this success lies a process of trial and error, as seen in Capcom’s repeated, and largely unsuccessful, attempts at developing online live service titles. In fact, the newly revealed Resident Evil Requiem would have been of the same ilk.
Thankfully, fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that the game has been finally announced. As part of the festivities at Summer Game Fest 2025 and the Capcom Spotlight event, Capcom confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem is a single-player, offline game. This confirmation was met with enthusiasm, but also raised eyebrows about the necessity of such clarification.
In the full-length Creator’s Message video published via the Resident Evil Portal, director Koshi Nakanishi explained that Requiem was not always intended to be a traditional single-player experience. Early in development, the team explored the idea of making Resident Evil Requiem an online game, which corroborates previous rumours circulating within the community.
An Online Resident Evil Requiem
Nakanishi even shared early development footage featuring character models resembling Leon and Helena from Resident Evil 6. He confirmed that these prototypes were part of the abandoned multiplayer concept. While he refrained from sharing specific gameplay details, Nakanishi admitted that the idea had some interesting mechanics and direction at the time.
Ultimately, the decision to scrap the online format appears to have stemmed from a deeper understanding of player expectations. Drawing insights from past multiplayer titles in the Resident Evil franchise, the development team recognised that the core fanbase continues to favour a focused, narrative-driven experience. That realisation led to a complete overhaul of the project, giving birth to the game we know today.
Though we may never know the full scope of what the online version might have entailed, fans can look forward to a game that stays true to the franchise’s survival horror roots, something Nakanishi and his team are clearly committed to preserving.
Resident Evil Requiem is set for release on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S consoles, and PC.
