For me, and likely many others, the surprise reveal ofResident Evil Requiemto close out Summer Games Fest 2025 was my favorite moment of the showcase. After several teases throughout the presentation, I was ready to accept that we weren’t going to see the project until The Game Awards at the earliest. But I’m so glad I stuck around to watch the end of the show, because thatResident Evil Requiemtrailer gave me just enough to ignite the hype for its June 16, 2025 release date.
After hearing the rumors of Leon Kennedy returning to the lead role in the nextResident Evil, I had assumed he’d make an appearance in this trailer. However, I nearly forgot about this possibility because I was too focused on gleaning every bit of lore I could from the brief scenes chosen to showcaseResident Evil Requiem’s debut. In the end, I found myself far more invested in learning more about newcomerGrace Ashcroftand her history with the franchise after it was revealed that her mother was Alyssa Ashcroft ofResident Evil Outbreak, and I think I already like her more than any modernREprotagonist so far.
Grace Ashcroft is Far More Interesting to Me Than Ethan Winters, and I Adored Resident Evil Village
I want to start by saying that I am a huge proponent ofResident Evil 7andVillage, and I love how these games refreshed the series. However, I always felt that Ethan Winters was somewhat of a black sheep amongResident Evilprotagonists. While I like that he isn’t some special elite agent like Chris Redfield or Leon Kennedy—I think it gives him a unique perspective and increases the scare factor for the player—I never really felt a connection with his character.
It almost feels like Capcom wanted to create a self-insert character for the players to control, given the change to a first-person perspective inResident Evil 7, but the way Ethan was designed felt like only a half-measure. He still has his own personality, dialogue, and connection to the game’s events, so he can’t really be considered a true player stand-in. But at the same time, Capcom seems committed to never showing Ethan’s real face, as is evident from the way it’s still obscured both in-game and on official art afterResident Evil Village’s third-person modeupdate.
Putting a Face to a Name Immediately Puts Grace Above Ethan in My Eyes
Without ever seeing Ethan’s face, there is a barrier that remains between the player and the character that leaves me feeling like I don’t really know Ethan like I do other iconicResident Evilprotagonists. That’s why the introduction of Grace asResident Evil Requiem’s protagonist was a breath of fresh air to me. Although her intro may not have been anything too exciting, it set up her identity as an FBI analyst and immediately established her connection to the rest of the series through her mother,Alyssa Ashcroft.
Knowing that Grace has trauma tied to theevents ofResident Evil Outbreakhelps me picture her role in the franchise without even having playedRequiem. This leaves just enough room for some level of mystery while also teasing enough of a connection to get me theorizing on how her story could play out. It’s the perfect amount of backstory for a reveal trailer to set up to get me invested in a character without spoiling too much of their arc prematurely.
I’m Still Excited About Leon Kennedy’s Rumored Return, But Grace Has Already Stolen the Show
Of course, the elephant still in the room when discussingResident Evil Requiemis Leon’s leaked roleas a second protagonist. Believe me, I’ll be as excited as anyone to see Leon back after getting reacquainted with his action hero-style one-liners in theResident Evil 4remake. But it’s equally, if not more, exciting to see a brand-new character develop into what could potentially be another fan-favorite protagonist with the possibilities Grace’s backstory holds.
Leon has had several opportunities to grow into a star, and rightfully deserves one more time in the spotlight. However, I think Grace has the power to share the spotlight with a character of Leon’s star power due to her roots that embed her story in the franchise from the get-go, and Capcom’s willingness to go all-in on creating a character that can be fully viewed in a third-person perspective bodes well for her staying power. The Ashcroft name carries a lot of weight inRaccoon City, and it’s only fitting that a return to where the series started would include a focus on that family.
Grace Feels Like the Resident Evil Heroine I’ve Been Waiting for Since Jill Valentine and Claire Redfield
TheResident Evilseries has always produced memorable video game heroines, even as far back as the original, with Jill Valentine putting the S.T.A.R.S. investigation of the Spencer Mansion into perspective for players. Claire Redfield’s heroics in saving Sherry Birkin during theT-Virus outbreak inResident Evil 2built upon the foundation of strong female leads in the series and set the bar high going forward. While other heroines likeResident Evil 5’s Sheva Alomar have continued the tradition of the series' female protagonists, none have had quite the same depth as Jill and Claire.
The closest the modern series has come to crafting a unique and complex female lead like Jill and Claire wasRose Winters inResident Evil Village’s DLC. However, with it seeming like that short experience was a one-and-done outing for Rose, I feel like she never reached her full narrative potential. Grace, on the other hand, presents another opportunity for Capcom to craft a new heroine out of the emotional complexities of existingResident Evillore, and I can’t wait to see how her story unfolds inResident Evil Requiem.
