The Resident Evil series returns in full force, and its ninth mainline entry, subtitled Requiem, proves that Capcom still knows how to define the survival horror genre. While previous major projects like Monster Hunter Wilds struggled with optimization, Requiem arrived in a surprisingly solid state, even on handhelds. If we were to look for the closest comparison, Requiem acts as a logical evolution of the Resident Evil 4 Remake—it inherits its aggressive action but wraps it in a more modern technical shell and a more ambitious scale, which this fresh update now refines even further.
Technical Patch for Nintendo and a Smoother Experience
The latest patch, which arrived on March 9, primarily targets the Nintendo Switch 2 version. Owners of this console had to wait a few days longer than players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series, who received an identical update on March 6. The delay was likely due to Nintendo’s certification process, but the content remains the same.
The main draw of the update is the fix for critical bugs that, under specific conditions, completely blocked player progress (so-called progression blockers). Although Capcom wasn’t entirely specific in the patch notes and didn’t reveal which exact segment was affected, the fix is crucial for players’ peace of mind. Additionally, the developers worked on “overall playability,” which translates to minor optimization and smoothing out the game’s performance.
Record-Breaking Success and the Controversial New Game+
Resident Evil Requiem is breaking records on all fronts. Not only does it boast the highest user review scores on Metacritic in the series’ history, but the concurrent player counts on Steam also confirm that the hunger for high-quality horror is immense. Great news is that Capcom has already officially confirmed the production of DLC, though we don’t have any specific details about them yet.
The game runs on the proven RE Engine, which excels here precisely because it doesn’t attempt a fully open world like Dragon’s Dogma 2, but instead bets on detailed environments. Nevertheless, there are points that divide the community:
- Absence of a Full-Featured New Game+: The game uses a hybrid system where only certain upgrades and rewards carry over.
- Weapon Balancing: Thanks to the carry-over system, you can, for example, obtain the best gun for Grace right at the start, which totally breaks the intended progression.
- Missing Modes: Fans are still vainly looking for the popular Mercenaries or Raid modes, which would extend playtime after finishing the campaign.
Editorial Perspective
After the technical missteps of their last big games, Capcom has finally delivered a title that “just works.” It’s refreshing to see that even on the Steam Deck or the new Switch, we can enjoy a AAA horror without constant FPS drops. Requiem feels like a confident climax of the series’ current era. We are a bit disappointed by the clunky New Game+ solution and the absence of bonus modes, but given the confirmed DLCs, we believe Capcom is keeping these aces up its sleeve. If they fix the slightly stuttering Leon sections in the more open locations, we’ll have nothing left to complain about.
FAQ
Q: When exactly was Resident Evil Requiem released?
A: The game was officially released on February 27 and is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Q: What exactly does the March 9 update fix?
A: The patch focuses on fixing bugs that prevented players from progressing further and generally improves stability and smoothness, especially on the Nintendo Switch 2 console.
Q: Does the game include a New Game+ mode?
A: Not in the traditional sense. Requiem offers only a partial carry-over of unlocked items and upgrades into subsequent playthroughs, allowing players to obtain powerful gear right at the beginning of the game.
Q: Will we see any expansions or DLC?
A: Yes, Capcom has confirmed that DLC for Resident Evil Requiem is already in production, although no specific details regarding content or release dates have been made public yet.
Q: How does the game perform technically compared to other Capcom titles?
A: Compared to Dragon’s Dogma 2 or Monster Hunter Wilds, Requiem is much better optimized thanks to its tighter level design, which suits the RE Engine better.
