The official Resident Evil 9 trailer was packed with stunning imagery and subtle hints—enough to spark both nostalgia in long-time fans and wild theories across the community.
In the latest ZoomCast episode by Zoomji, we thoroughly analyzed every hidden detail in the Resident Evil 9 reveal trailer. We also took another close look at previously leaked information from reliable sources. With all this in hand, we’ve tried to piece together a bigger picture of what Capcom might be planning to shake players to their core in Resident Evil: Requiem.
“A Requiem for the Dead, A Nightmare for the Living”
The official description of the game sets the tone:
“A requiem for the dead. A nightmare for the living. Resident Evil: Requiem is the ninth entry in the mainline Resident Evil series. Prepare for a heart-stopping escape from the clutches of death in an experience that chills you to the bone.”
With Capcom pushing the RE Engine to its absolute limits and fully harnessing the power of modern consoles, the game promises an unbelievable level of realism. From ultra-detailed character models to lifelike facial animations and even believable sweat, the game is designed to completely immerse players in its horrific world.
Capcom also teased that more terrifying footage from Resident Evil Requiem will be shown later this year, and that the first playable demo will be available at Gamescom 2025, about two months from now.
Survival Horror Will Enter a New Era in 2026
Resident Evil 9 aims to kick off a bold new chapter in the survival horror genre in 2026. According to Capcom, the game will feature:
- Advanced technical performance
- A deep, emotional story with well-written characters
- The most immersive and intense gameplay in the franchise yet
This will be a pure single-player horror experience, one that digs even deeper into the player’s psyche than any Resident Evil before it. Requiem will take the series back to Raccoon City, the iconic site of the original outbreak—this time, to blend psychological terror with intense action.
A Terrifying Killer in the Wrenwood Hotel
Capcom describes Resident Evil Requiem as both extremely scary and highly action-focused. When you combine this with key scenes from the trailer and some leaked insider info, an interesting theory starts to form—especially since known leaker Dusk Golem still insists that Leon will be the central protagonist of RE9.
The theory suggests that the game may feature two playable characters with different gameplay perspectives:
- Grace Ashcroft, in a first-person horror section
- Leon Kennedy, in a third-person action segment
Eventually, their stories could merge, bringing both characters to the source of the latest nightmare—perhaps an old and familiar location.
The Trailer Shows Three Key Locations
The trailer appears to show three distinct settings:
- Wrenwood Hotel, located in an unknown city
- The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation building
- The ruins of Raccoon City
The FBI building seems to only appear in cutscenes, serving mainly as a place to introduce Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a returning character from Resident Evil Outbreak. Grace is a technical analyst dealing with serial murder cases, and following recent strange events, she’s sent to Wrenwood Hotel—where her mother was reportedly murdered.
Wrenwood Hotel: A Haunted and Symbolic Location
Throughout the trailer, we see multiple shots from inside the Wrenwood Hotel. There are both cinematic scenes—like Grace tied to a stretcher, covered in bloody bandages—and what appears to be first-person gameplay footage in the hotel’s dark hallways. Even the exterior of the hotel is briefly shown, making it clear that Wrenwood is far from the devastated ruins of Raccoon City.
In one hallway shot, a horrifying monster appears that looks very similar to the Regis Licker from Resident Evil Outbreak. Given that Alyssa Ashcroft originally appeared in that same game, the connection is likely intentional.
Flashbacks, VHS Tapes, and Familiar Scares
One moment in the trailer shows a red door, eerily reminiscent of classic door-opening transitions from early Resident Evil games. The overlay filters and glitch effects give it the feel of a VHS tape, similar to how players experienced past events in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard by watching VHS recordings.
This is even more interesting when you remember that Koshi Nakanishi, director of RE7, is also the director of RE9. Could the same storytelling techniques return in this game, blending past and present timelines?
Grace’s Role: Puzzle Solving, Not Combat
It seems that Grace’s campaign will be focused heavily on horror, atmosphere, and puzzle-solving inside Wrenwood Hotel. Based on her actions in the trailer and her character background as an FBI analyst, Grace will likely spend most of her time searching for clues, escaping monsters, and surviving tense situations—not fighting enemies directly.
Leon’s Role: Combat-Heavy Action in a Separate Zone
In contrast, Leon Kennedy may be involved in a more traditional Resident Evil action campaign—fighting off enemies, exploring new environments, and carrying out high-stakes missions. The idea is that his and Grace’s storylines will eventually intersect, perhaps in Raccoon City, where the true source of the terror awaits.
Some scenes or flashbacks may even put players in the shoes of Alyssa Ashcroft’s cameraman, offering yet another terrifying perspective through found footage sequences.
Who Is Alyssa Ashcroft? What Secrets Lie Ahead?
Alyssa, mother of Grace and one of the key figures in this story, first appeared in Resident Evil Outbreak. Her return raises countless questions:
- What happened to her after the events of Outbreak?
- How is she connected to the new bioterror incident?
- What other secrets are hidden in the trailer?
- Could the game feature multiple timelines or playable perspectives?
All of these questions—and the wild fan theories that come with them—are discussed in detail in the full ZoomCast video.
Share Your Theories!
After watching the ZoomCast breakdown of the Resident Evil 9 trailer, we’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you think is really going on in Wrenwood Hotel? Is Leon truly back as the main character? What role does Grace play in this new horror story?
Drop your theories in the comments and join the conversation with fellow Resident Evil fans.
