“A new breed of infected” is promised for Resident Evil Requiem, with yesterday’s online Showcase presentation providing new details on the monsters players will face.
Director Koshi Nakanishi confirmed that “This time, there are zombies that retain characteristics from when they were alive.”
In the gameplay footage shown, a large zombie can be seen in a kitchen which looks like it used to be a butcher in its former human life. Violently swinging a massive knife, it can be heard groaning the word “next” – hinting that the undead in this game may have primitive vocal abilities.
Nakanishi revealed: “There is a custodian in the building, but even as a zombie, that person continues to clean the facilities diligently.
“There are many zombies like this that cling to the habits of their past lives. So by watching their actions closely, you can deftly dodge or take them down, adding more to the gameplay.”
Nakanishi also touched briefly on Elpis, the deadly virus responsible for turning its hosts into flesh-eating monsters.
“This is something that we haven’t revealed yet, but Leon bears a secret in this game,” Nakanishi teased.
“That secret (related to Elpis) comes into play regarding the murder of Grace’s mother, Alyssa. This is a key part of the game, so we hope you’ll play and try to unravel the mystery.
The Showcase is available to watch below, with the zombie details starting at the 2:48 mark and the Elpis segment from 11:40.
More Resident Evil news from the Showcase
Other announcements included new figures of Requiem protagonists Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft, a collaboration with Hamilton Watch Company, and Resident Evil’s 30th anniversary orchestral concerts going on a world tour in 2026.
Resident Evil Requiem will launch on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam on February 27th, 2026.
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Written by Reece Heather
A lifelong Nintendo fan and a longtime editor at Zelda Universe, Reece will forever be grateful that he somehow dodged the Naughty List of Christmas 1998, when Santa delivered the life-changing gift of a Nintendo 64 with Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Mario Kart 64. When he's not playing games, Reece is usually reading Punisher comics, delving helplessly into the weirdest depths of anime and manga, or spending time with his cocker spaniel Gracie -- the goodest girl ever!
