Resident Evil: Grace Ashcroft Named Lead

The director of Resident Evil Requiem has confirmed Grace Ashcroft will be the new central character of the series. Learn more about the game's fresh focus and its key new feature: the ability to switch perspectives at any time.

Grace Ashcroft: The New Protagonist

Latest Resident Evil Requiem Update

Leon, it might be time to step aside. Koshi Nakanishi, director of Resident Evil Requiem (RE9), confirmed that the new protagonist shown in the game’s first trailer will take the lead role. As reported by Neon Slice, in a private video message sent exclusively to Platinum Resident Evil Ambassadors, Nakanishi explicitly referred to Grace Ashcroft as RE9's "new main character."

Resident Evil Requiem made a surprise debut during Summer Game Fest 2025. Based on its trailer, RE9 appears to revisit Raccoon City, leading many to expect the return of longtime series hero Leon Kennedy as protagonist. The teaser, however, focused exclusively on Grace as the playable character.

There has been no official word on whether Leon will be playable or even appear in the game. While many fans are still hoping to see their favorite hero in RE9, Nakanishi stressed that Grace will take center stage, with her character deeply intertwined with the wider Resident Evil universe.

Returning to Raccoon City

Fans were stunned to see Raccoon City featured in RE9's trailer, speculating on how its story could continue. Nakanishi confirmed the game takes place 30 years after the events of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, in which Raccoon City was destroyed by a thermobaric bomb.

Moreover, Nakanishi confidently stated that RE9 will surpass his previous works, including Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Revelations. This raises expectations significantly, as both RE7 and Revelations were fan favorites known for their intense survival horror elements and deep narrative focus.

Despite the nostalgic return to Raccoon City, Capcom’s official game website suggests this will usher in "a new era of survival horror."

Changing Perspectives

As part of this "new era," RE9 is shaking up the series with a major gameplay innovation. According to an IGN report from June 11, a live game demo revealed that players will be able to choose between first-person and third-person views, switching freely between them at any time via the options menu.

The original games (Resident Evil 1, 2, 3, etc.) primarily used fixed camera angles—static in each room, shifting only as players moved between areas. Later, Resident Evil 4 settled into a third-person perspective, establishing what became the standard for subsequent titles.

After a period of action-heavy entries, Capcom shifted to first-person for Resident Evil 7 and 8 to heighten immersion and refocus on pure horror. The developers previously experimented with combining both perspectives when they added a third-person mode for the RE8 DLC, whereas the base game was entirely first-person.

With the release date now public, fans can look forward to more news in the coming months—including potential confirmation on whether Leon Kennedy or other classic characters will return.

Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the most current updates, check our article below.