Resident Evil Requiem’s Nvidia Showcase Reveals Sprawling Urban Environment

New footage hints at open-world ambitions for the upcoming survival horror title

Capcom dropped a technical showcase for Resident Evil Requiem that was supposed to highlight ray tracing capabilities on Nvidia hardware. Instead, eagle-eyed fans are fixating on something far more interesting: a brand new city environment that could fundamentally change how we play Resident Evil games.

More Than Just Pretty Reflections

The promotional video demonstrates Path Tracing technology on Nvidia GPUs, showing off impressive lighting and reflection effects. But buried within those shiny surfaces is our first real look at expansive city streets—presumably the fictional metropolis of Wrenwood, where a significant portion of Requiem’s story unfolds.

While Capcom has kept details close to the chest, the brief glimpses suggest urban exploration on a scale the franchise hasn’t attempted before. This isn’t your typical cramped corridor or claustrophobic mansion; we’re looking at what appears to be traversable city blocks with multiple routes and sight lines.

The Open Level Question

Industry insider Dusk Golem, known for accurate Resident Evil leaks, previously claimed that Requiem will feature “big open levels” for players to explore. The Nvidia footage seems to corroborate this, showing environments that look genuinely expansive rather than linear pathways dressed up with extra space.

This design philosophy would represent a significant departure for mainline Resident Evil entries. While previous games incorporated hub areas and backtracking, they’ve typically maintained relatively tight spatial design. True open levels would introduce new gameplay considerations: resource scarcity across larger areas, navigation challenges, and potentially more dynamic enemy encounters.

Leon’s Luxury Ride Might Actually Matter

Last month’s reveal of Leon Kennedy as Requiem’s second protagonist came with an interesting detail: his custom Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. At the time, many assumed the vehicle was purely for cinematic flair. Now? It’s looking increasingly likely that Leon’s sports car serves a functional purpose.

If Wrenwood offers genuinely large explorable spaces, vehicle traversal starts making sense. The Porsche could bridge the gap between traditional Resident Evil pacing and the demands of navigating sprawling urban environments. Imagine high-speed escapes through infected city streets, or using the vehicle as mobile storage for supplies across distant locations.

Tale of Two Playstyles

Director Akifumi Nakanishi recently confirmed that protagonists Leon and Grace receive nearly equal playtime, but with dramatically different approaches. Grace’s campaign emphasizes horror and presumably stealth, while Leon delivers “intense, adrenaline-pumping action.”

The dichotomy becomes more interesting when considering the new urban setting. Grace might navigate Wrenwood’s streets carefully, avoiding confrontation and managing limited resources in true survival horror fashion. Leon, meanwhile, could tear through the same environment with his Porsche and superior firepower, treating Wrenwood as an action playground.

This split design philosophy carries both promise and risk, as VGC’s recent preview noted: the game could deliver “a potentially enjoyable mix of styles, but also a potential jack of all trades and master of none.”

Technical Ambitions Meet Gameplay Evolution

Path Tracing technology makes particular sense for urban environments. City streets offer numerous reflective surfaces—wet pavement, glass storefronts, polished vehicles—that benefit dramatically from advanced lighting. Capcom may be using cutting-edge graphics tech not just for visual spectacle, but to enhance atmosphere and spatial awareness in larger play spaces.

The technical showcase likely targets high-end PC players with Nvidia’s latest GPUs, but Requiem is also confirmed for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and standard PC configurations. How Capcom scales the experience across this hardware spectrum, especially with potentially open city sections, remains to be seen.

What This Means for Resident Evil’s Future

If Requiem successfully integrates open exploration into the Resident Evil formula, it could chart the series’ direction for years to come. The franchise has always evolved with each numbered entry—from fixed cameras to over-the-shoulder views, from pure survival horror to action-horror hybrids.

Expansive urban environments with vehicle traversal and dual-character approaches could be the next evolution. Or they could be an experiment that the series walks back if players prefer the tighter, more controlled experiences that defined classics like RE2 Remake and RE7.

The February 27 Question

With Resident Evil Requiem launching February 27, 2026, across all major platforms, we’re less than two months from finding out whether Capcom’s ambitious vision pays off. The Nvidia footage raises as many questions as it answers:

• How large are these “big open levels” really?
• Does the entire game take place in Wrenwood, or just specific chapters?
• Will vehicle mechanics feel integrated or tacked on?
• Can the game maintain tension and horror in wide-open spaces?
• How does weapon and ammo progression work across larger environments?

The glimpses of Wrenwood’s streets in the Path Tracing showcase suggest Capcom isn’t playing it safe. Whether that boldness results in the series’ next masterpiece or a well-intentioned misfire, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

One thing’s certain: this isn’t just another Resident Evil game with prettier graphics. Requiem appears ready to test how far the franchise’s core DNA can stretch while still feeling like Resident Evil.

Release Date: February 27, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Developer: Capcom
Playable Characters: Leon Kennedy, Grace (new protagonist)