Resident Evil 9: Insider Teases Reveal, Release Window, and Bold Reinvention
The gaming community is abuzz with excitement over the next installment in the iconic Resident Evil series. Although Capcom keeps mum, respected industry insider Dusk Golem, someone who tends to have a good sense of Capcom's intentions, has shared some juicy teases regarding Resident Evil 9. It appears we could catch our first official glimpse in 2025, possibly with a release date in 2026.
According to Dusk Golem's insights shared on X (formerly Twitter), the reveal this year and a launch next year are looking "almost 100% for sure." The main question, it seems, revolves around when exactly we’ll see it – perhaps a summer showcase, or maybe we'll have to wait until The Game Awards. And will it hit shelves before the end of March 2026, or later that year.
A New Nightmare in a Familiar Yet Different Setting
What of the game itself. Earlier rumors from Dusk Golem indicated Resident Evil 9 would transport us to an island set in Singapore-inspired rural country, namely a rural town. Although we've dabbled in rural horrors in Spain (RE4) and Romania (RE Village), a Southeast Asian setting might provide an authentic new and creepy environment for a new generation of bio-organic threats.
Intriguingly, last year, the same insider suggested that both Resident Evil 9 and Monster Hunter Wilds would embrace an open-world design. With Monster Hunter Wilds having launched in February and indeed featuring an open world, it lends more weight to the possibility that Resident Evil 9 might also be taking a more expansive approach to its level design. Imagine the possibilities for exploration and emergent horror in a sprawling, open environment.
Capcom's Bold Reinvention
So why the wait. Dusk Golem recently shed some light on this, explaining that Capcom is apparently taking its time to "reinvent the series" and experiment with new ideas. This sounds very much like the bold leaps they took with Resident Evil 4, which redefined action-horror, and Resident Evil VII, which brought a terrifying first-person perspective. Fans should prepare for something that likely won't just be a straightforward sequel to Resident Evil Village. Could this mean a shift back to third-person perspective, or something entirely new. The mystery continues.
When We Might Know More
If a reveal does actually happen this year, Capcom does have some top windows of opportunity. Summer Game Fest is coming up soon, followed by Gamescom in August, and then Tokyo Game Show in September. Of course, they could keep us in suspense until The Game Awards in December. A delayed reveal would perhaps indicate a release period later in the latter half of 2026.
For now, all we can do is wait and speculate. But one thing's for sure: the prospect of a new Resident Evil, especially one that aims to innovate, is enough to keep horror fans on the edge of their seats.
