Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) - Official Leon Reveal and Gameplay Trailer | The Game Awards 2025

Quick Overview

The official trailer for Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) reveals Leon S. Kennedy operating in a post-outbreak, dark, and rainy urban environment, confronting a grotesque, stitched-up antagonist who mentions finding the "special one" through Leon, before the game's title card sets the release date for February 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch.

Key Points: The trailer showcases Leon S. Kennedy in a dark, rain-soaked urban setting, heavily implying his return to action after the Raccoon City events. A heavily scarred, stitched-up antagonist wearing goggles confronts Leon, speaking cryptically about finding the "special one" through him. The scene transitions to a dilapidated city featuring a massive crater, suggesting a catastrophic event has occurred in the area, possibly linked to Umbrella. Visual evidence includes file images of mutated hands, anatomical diagrams, viral structures, and a top-secret document referencing "Raccoon City" and the "Elpis incident." The trailer features a brief sequence where Claire Redfield reports a missing police officer and the discovery of a fifth body. The game, titled Resident Evil Requiem, is scheduled for release on February 27, 2026. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam (PC), Epic Games Store, and Nintendo Switch.

Context: This video functions as a reveal trailer for the next main installment in the Resident Evil franchise, titled Resident Evil Requiem (RE9), presented during The Game Awards 2025. The trailer focuses heavily on established protagonist Leon S. Kennedy and introduces new, disturbing antagonists in a bleak, rain-drenched setting reminiscent of the franchise's survival horror roots, referencing past lore like Raccoon City and the Umbrella Corporation.

Detailed Analysis

The trailer opens with an ESRB rating overlay warning of Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, and Strong Language, followed by the Capcom logo. The initial sequence plunges the viewer into darkness where a character (later revealed to be Claire Redfield) uses a flashlight to investigate a door, only to be confronted by a grotesque, stitched-up figure wearing goggles. This antagonist speaks, noting it has finally found the "special one" through Leon, whom he calls Ashcroft. The scene then shifts dramatically to a rainy, dilapidated city street where police cars are present, suggesting an ongoing crisis or investigation. Claire speaks to a police officer about a missing officer and the discovery of a fifth body, potentially related to a person of interest named Gideon. Further exposition flashes on a screen showing anatomical diagrams, chemical structures, and classified files referencing Raccoon City and the "Elpis" incident. The focus returns to Leon S. Kennedy, who confronts the grotesque villain in what appears to be an ornate, deteriorating building. Leon is shown readying his weapon, engaging in combat against mutated enemies, including one resembling the stitched antagonist from the earlier scene. The trailer concludes with a wide shot of a massive crater destroying a city, followed by the official title card: Resident Evil Requiem, confirming a release date of February 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders available.