(Image credit: Capcom)
Horror enthusiasts experienced quite a thrilling ride during last night’s Summer Game Fest 2025 keynote. The source of all this excitement was a bizarre prank from the creative minds behind Resident Evil 9, now known as Resident Evil Requiem. A new trailer surfaced a mere half-hour after Capcom pulled what can only be described as a mischievous stunt.
As part of the GamesRadar+ news team, I was covering the show. Midway through, my anticipation for RE9 was so high that little else held my attention. Suddenly, SGF host Geoff Keighley mentioned the “30th anniversary of a legendary franchise,” followed by an animation featuring the Resident Evil series’ iconic elements like the Racoon Police Department typewriter and Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village.
A wave of nausea hit me. This didn’t resemble Resident Evil 9, and something felt terribly off. Next, Lady Dimitrescu‘s actor Maggie Robertson appeared, wine glass in hand, to toast Resident Evil’s 30th birthday. Overwhelmed with existential dread, I felt the urge to join her.
Then came Capcom legend Jun Takeuchi who, with a grin, announced, “About the latest Resident Evil game you’ve all been waiting for, bear with us a little longer. Just a blink more, and it’ll be ready.” With these words, he toyed with our emotions, leaving me needing a breather.
The anticipation crescendoed. I messaged my disturbingly calm colleagues in disbelief, “TF WAS THAT,” I exclaimed. My frustration demanded expression, so I crafted a headline with urgency and keyboard fury.
Amid my emotional turmoil, my supportive colleagues began sending messages of solidarity, initially mistaken for sympathy over the ruse. But then, I noticed the excitement: “WE’RE SO BACK.” The realization hit; the real Resident Evil 9 reveal was happening—the trailer of Resident Evil Requiem was finally shown, just as it concluded.
Despite seven years in gaming journalism, I fell prey to Capcom’s joke entirely. Seeking solace, I turned to the Resident Evil Reddit community, which understood the pain acutely.
Comments poured in, reflecting shared exasperation and humor: “Bro is a bait specialist,” and “Imma not gonna trust this dude anymore ever.” True anguish turned to humor with, “I have enough bait for an entire weekend fish trip.” Even more shared our journey: “I was genuinely so pissed nearing the end but screamed in joy at the end.” Capcom, you got us good. Yet, despite the sting, the promising Requiem trailer is enough for tentative forgiveness… until the next announcement.
Notably, hints towards Resident Evil 9 Requiem were spotted in Resident Evil 7, a title released eight years ago, adding layers to the unfolding saga.