Capcom Tested Open-World Resident Evil: Requiem Then Scrapped It

Capcom has confirmed it explored the possibility of developing Resident Evil: Requiem as an open-world title with online multiplayer components before ultimately shifting direction.

In an in-depth developer diary, director Koshi Nakanishi offered a glimpse of this now-shelved early iteration, showcasing multiple protagonists engaged in intense combat sequences.

Ultimately, Capcom decided to return to the series' survival-horror foundations, the developers explained. When it launches next year, Requiem will be a strictly single-player experience with no online functionality.

"We've packed significant content into this project. During early development, we experimented with various gameplay systems," producer Masachika Kawata observed.

"You may have encountered speculation about an online Resident Evil or open-world approach," Nakanishi continued. "We dedicated considerable time to these concepts."

"While we developed promising prototypes, we recognized they didn't align with fan expectations. This realization prompted us to restart development, leading to the current vision for Resident Evil: Requiem."

Below are several brief sequences from the canceled multiplayer version of Requiem:

The cancelled Resident Evil 9 project pic.twitter.com/Vu7z2tlppQ

— Waleed (@Waleedx2007) June 27, 2025

Regarding the game's environment, art director Tomonori Takano emphasized Capcom's intentional focus on urban settings to distinguish it from recent series entries.

While Resident Evil 7, Village, and the Resident Evil 4 Remake predominantly featured remote locations, Requiem marks the return to Raccoon City's metropolitan landscape.

"Earlier installments frequently utilized rural environments rich with natural elements," Takano explained. "This installment emphasizes urban topography, with numerous scenarios unfolding in contemporary settings including Raccoon City."

Although Requiem's urban setting and solo campaign are now confirmed, Capcom remains ambiguous about Leon S. Kennedy's potential involvement alongside confirmed protagonist FBI agent Grace Ashcroft.

During yesterday's Capcom Spotlight 2025, Nakanishi remarked that Leon's characteristics might "clash with horror aesthetics," though he didn't explicitly rule out the character's appearance. The community anticipates Capcom has yet to reveal Requiem's more action-oriented segments where Leon would feel more appropriate.