Capcom has fully confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem will in fact put the first and third-person debate to an end. At a behind-closed-doors session at Summer Game Fest (SGF), the publisher showed off a recorded demonstration of gameplay, which showcased the hospital-like area that Grace was stuck in during the kickoff trailer. Grace, completely unarmed (even with a melee weapon), had to sneak through the zone and navigate various hazards, as well as a creepy creature that was stalking her throughout the journey.
At the very end of the demo, Capcom cheekily went into a menu screen, selected a third-person option on the fly, and showed off that Resident Evil Requiem would support multiple camera angles. The audience in attendance cheered, especially at the notion that Requiem will have the feature at launch.
A Behind Closed Doors SGF Preview Confirms RE9 Will Have Third-Person
It's A Full Menu Toggle Whenever You Want
99% of the hands-off demo for Resident Evil Requiem was in first-person. Given the positive reception for Resident Evil 7 and 8, this wasn’t a surprise, and if it were just a first-person game, a lot of folks would deal. It was refreshing to get to see the game directly after it was announced, but fans and attendees alike were clamoring for an old-school camera option. Thankfully, we’re getting the best of both worlds, and in a highly convenient package that won’t ask folks to compromise.
The end of the hectic and tension-filled demo showed a player pausing the game directly, swapping to a camera option, and then toggling on third-person. Players will have the option to entirely toggle between first- and third-person views at any time in the game, allowing them to enjoy each section with the perspective they’re most comfortable with. This is pretty huge, as you won’t need to quit the session to toggle it, nor will it be locked to specific playthroughs or runs. Instead of being relegated to a special mode, it’s all just baked into the core game.
I can already see the potential now. Some areas will be more entertaining to play with both options available, from a horror or gameplay perspective. If any particular section is too much to handle or the camera angle is annoying, simply swapping your perspective could help. I’m particularly interested in seeing how this affects the game’s design, as everything needs to be fully visible and playable from both angles.
So Far, RE9 Looks On Point
"Grace Ashcroft Will Learn To Face Her Fears"
The demo itself is notable because Capcom was confident enough to show off a chunk of gameplay (roughly 15 uninterrupted minutes, barring a few transitions). It makes sense given that Resident Evil Requiem is due on February 27, 2026, but the game is very far along, and we got to see the hospital/asylum area in detail. Thankfully, the old school Resident Evil feel is here on full display, with emblem-adorned keys, as well as electric box puzzles, healing items, and plenty of inventory management. Capcom is not abandoning the series’ roots anytime soon.
The demo also had a massive Nemesis-like creature (the big ghoul in the debut trailer) stalking Grace, which had her huffing and freaking out the entire time. The mood was dark and tense, which is sure to please fans. Although I want to get my hands on it at some point, it looks like a good mix of Resident Evil 7+8 sensibilities, while forging its own identity. Before the demo, a Capcom rep mentioned that although Grace has basic FBI training, she is not a fully-fledged, combat-ready sharpshooter and will need to learn to face her fears throughout the game. It’s a hero’s arc that I’m invested in, and I want to see it all play out.
Knock on wood, Resident Evil Requiem looks really good so far based on the trailer and this hands-off Summer Game Fest demo. The ability to fully swap between first and third-person camera angles will ensure that everyone is happy, and no one gets left behind, whether it’s old or new-school fans of Resident Evil. If Capcom can deliver on what this game is promising so far, it could end up being just as good as RE7 and RE8, if not better.
