Resident Evil Requiem: The Return of Terror to Raccoon City

One of the most interesting things about Resident Requiem is the presence of a new protagonist character named Grace Ashcroft. This character is depicted as strong and mysterious, bringing a fresh nuance to the Resident Evil narrative. In the first trailer, Grace is seen trying to survive in an environment full of terror and mystery, with a very thick atmosphere typical of Resident Evil.

A New Story with a New Protagonist

In Resident Evil Requiem, players will control Grace Ashcroft, an FBI agent who returns to Raccoon City, destroyed by a nuclear attack, to investigate a new outbreak of the T-virus. Grace is the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a character who previously appeared in Resident Evil Outbreak.

Grace is asked to investigate a special case in a hotel that became the place of her mother's death 8 years ago.

Then in one scene, a mysterious man searches for Grace and calls her “The Chosen One.” What does this mean? What is Grace's connection to her mother's death case 8 years ago?

The Ashcroft family name held by Grace will be immediately recognized by hardcore Resident Evil fans. The character with the Ashcroft name in the Resident Evil series is Alyssa Ashcroft.

Alyssa Ashcroft is one of the playable characters in the Resident Evil Outbreak 1 and 2 games, which are set in Raccoon City, depicted as a Journalist Reporter figure. Alyssa and other characters are Survivors who may have managed to survive and escape the Raccoon City disaster, depending on the Ending obtained by the Player in the game.

However, for Alyssa Ashcroft, she is canonically or officially a character who survived in the Resident Evil series. This is seen from the clue where her name is mentioned in a “Newspaper Article – Over 20 Missing” that gamers can find in Resident Evil 7 (on the table near the front door of the Baker Family house).

At the end of the article, it reads “Alyssa Ashcroft, Jan. 19, 2016.” This indicates Alyssa was still alive after the Raccoon City incident in 2016. And at that time, Alyssa already had a child named Grace Ashcroft.

The only speculation why Alyssa died and Grace is targeted by mysterious people is related to the blood or DNA they have, possibly carrying some form of virus sample because they managed to survive Raccoon City.

You should know, in Resident Evil Outbreak there is a gameplay feature where each character has a T-Virus indicator in their body. If the indicator reaches 100%, the character will become a zombie and the game is over (when playing Single Player and Offline).

Maybe that's why Alyssa and even Grace as her daughter with the same DNA as her mother are sought after by certain people or groups because they have a sample of the T-Virus after the Raccoon City incident.

Connection to the Previous Series

Resident Evil Requiem returns to the setting of Raccoon City, an iconic location in the history of the Resident Evil series. This signifies the return of classic elements loved by longtime fans, while introducing a fresh storyline through the character Grace Ashcroft.

The trailer also hints at the return of Lisa Trevor, one of the most terrifying monsters in the series. Lisa, who first appeared in the 2002 Resident Evil remake, is known for her extraordinary endurance and frightening appearance. The sound of chains and her distinct face appear at the end of the trailer, strongly suggesting the return of this character.

Fans of the Resident Evil series warmly welcome this announcement, especially with the return of the Raccoon City setting and a more immersive horror approach. Although there is no confirmation regarding the presence of veteran characters such as Chris Redfield or Leon S. Kennedy, the connection to previous stories opens up opportunities for surprises in the future.

Resident Evil Requiem is scheduled for release on February 27, 2026.