The 30th anniversary of Resident Evil is coming up fast. Anticipation is high for the ninth mainline game, Resident Evil Requiem. Everyone wants to know the same thing: when can we try it?
Right now, Capcom hasn’t confirmed a playable demo. That’s the honest answer. Anything floating around online is guesswork based on how they’ve done it before.
Resident Evil Requiem: What We Know for Sure
These are the confirmed details from Capcom and official preview events:
- Full release: February 27, 2026
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC through Steam. Switch 2 is listed in some regions but not globally
- Engine: RE ENGINE, same as the last few entries
- Demo: Not officially announced
- Previews: Some outlets got two hours of hands-on time with a test build
- Xbox services: No Game Pass or Play Anywhere support at launch
Where the Rumors Started
Fans on Reddit and social media started messaging the director, Akifumi Nakanishi, asking about a demo. One translated response said, “Nothing has been decided yet regarding the demo version.”
Some took that as a hidden confirmation, but the message has not been officially verified. Capcom hasn’t backed it up with a statement. Until they do, it remains just another rumor.
Does Capcom Usually Do Demos?
Yes, they do. Every major Resident Evil title in the past decade has had a demo. They tend to drop them around two weeks before launch. Resident Evil 2 Remake, RE3 Remake, and RE4 Remake all followed this timing.
That puts February 13, 2026, in the spotlight. It lines up with their past habits but has not been announced. Nothing has been promised. That date is an estimate based on pattern, not proof.
Leon and Grace: Two Styles, Two Perspectives
Leon Kennedy returns as a hardened version of himself. His gameplay is in third person. He carries a hatchet that can be sharpened and used to parry. In a section set in the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, he can even take a chainsaw from an enemy and use it to clear rooms. Combat is gritty and up close.
Grace Ashcroft, a new playable character, works for the FBI as a technical analyst. Her segments are in first person. She has limited ammo and avoids combat through stealth. Her part of the game focuses more on survival and evasion than fighting. Enemy design reflects this.
Some zombies are locked into repetitive behaviors from their former lives. One slices meat in a kitchen, another flicks light switches in a dark hallway. These behaviors can be used to sneak past them, but only with caution.
Why Capcom Might Not Want a Demo Right Away
Releasing a demo isn’t always simple. Demos get datamined fast. Story spoilers, hidden characters, enemy types, they all end up leaked. The team might want to avoid that. They could also be prioritizing the full build.
Cutting time to build a demo could risk polish and stability for the final game. That’s not a trade they may be willing to make.
Is PlayStation Getting It First?
Capcom has worked with Sony for years. PlayStation often gets the first crack at exclusive content. People are watching for a State of Play event in February. That would be the ideal time to drop a demo.
The timing would line up, and it matches how Capcom has launched similar promos. Again, this is speculative, but not out of character.
How to Know When the Demo Drops
Check these official channels first:
- Capcom social accounts and the Resident Evil Requiem website
- Digital stores like PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or Steam (look for a separate listing labeled Demo)
- Capcom’s YouTube channel, especially videos titled “Demo Available Now”
Until Capcom says otherwise, don’t count on a demo just yet. Keep an eye on official channels, especially as February kicks off. If they follow their usual pattern, we’ll know soon enough. And if not, Requiem still launches at the end of the month. One way or another, the wait is almost over.