Resident Evil Requiem launched on February 27, 2026, and within hours it became clear that Capcom had delivered one of the biggest releases in franchise history. Blending classic survival horror tension with modern technical performance, the ninth mainline entry is dominating player charts while earning widespread critical praise.
The clearest sign of its impact came from PC. Within just nine hours of release, the game reached an all time peak of 320,056 concurrent players on Steam. That figure does not just signal a strong launch. It represents a defining moment for the long running series. It nearly doubled the previous franchise record set by the Resident Evil 4 remake, which peaked at 168,191 concurrent players, and it more than tripled the launch day peak of Resident Evil Village. Even after the initial surge, it has remained firmly inside Steam’s Top 3 most played titles, maintaining well over 262,000 active players.
Commercial momentum has been matched by critical success. With a Metascore of 88, Requiem currently stands as the highest rated new release of 2026. Much of the praise centres on its dual protagonist structure, pairing series veteran Leon S. Kennedy with newcomer Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst drawn into the unfolding crisis. The two character approach allows the campaign to shift tone and pacing, alternating between high intensity combat and slower investigative sequences across a tightly designed 10 to 12 hour story. Reviewers have highlighted this structure as a key strength, helping sustain tension without overstaying its welcome.
Technically, the game represents a significant step forward for the franchise. It is the first major title to fully leverage PSSR 2.0 on the PlayStation 5 Pro, delivering a crisp 4K presentation at a consistent 60 frames per second. At the same time, its day and date launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 has expanded its reach considerably, reinforcing the brand’s cross platform strength.
With more than three million wishlists reportedly converting into major Day 1 sales, Resident Evil Requiem has not only met expectations but surpassed them. Strong player retention, critical acclaim, and record breaking concurrent numbers suggest this entry may stand as one of the most commercially and critically successful chapters in the series to date.
