Even if the latest Resident Evil showcase didn’t reveal anything too game-changing for Resident Evil Requiem, one of the most interesting and overlooked aspects comes from the mutated undead themselves. While the trailer highlighted the unique behavior of Raccoon City’s infected population, one hidden detail spotted by fans has some absolutely horrifying implications for Requiem.
Spotted by X user adasfile based on the new gameplay footage and official renders for Resident Evil Requiem, the zombies found throughout the game appear to be crying in pain, specifically noting “tears on their faces.” Given that most monsters from the Resident Evil series so far have either been autonomous zombies, crazed infected, or berserk mutants, the new detail poses a terrifying new reality for its semi-conscious undead.
Resident Evil Requiem’s Zombies Are More Than Simple Undead
While the typical zombies of Resident Evil are already scary enough on their own, having the infected in Requiem retain their consciousness while “rotting alive and forced to do heinous things” as noted by archaelius on X, is even more disturbing.
Even if this isn’t exactly a first for the series, with the concept being a highlight of Resident Evil 7‘s mold-afflicted family, Requiem‘s undead being clearly distraught while unable to control their actions has even more terrifying implications for the survivors of the series.
Rather than simply having a visual effect on the infected you’ll take down as Grace and Leon, the latest gameplay showcase also emphasized how it will affect the gameplay side of things too.
Instead of aimlessly wandering or waiting to strike, the retained consciousness of Requiem‘s zombies means they’ll have some semblance of personality or habits as before. Forcing you to grapple with the fact that they were once people more than ever before, you’ll need to use their repeated habits to navigate your way around or through them.
Maybe You’ll Think Twice About Shooting Them (But Probably Not)
Even if you’d be forgiven for overlooking this subtle detail thanks to Leon’s exhilarating action sequences, that fun can’t fully overshadow the more horrifying aspects of Requiem‘s story premise and Grace-focused survival sections.
While the full extent of the new virus highlighted in Requiem‘s story and how it connects to Grace is still relatively a mystery, Resident Evil seems to be upping the horror ante in more ways than one, with this strain of the virus having some disturbing implications for the series.
Despite offering more player freedom in terms of how you want to navigate or pick your fights with limited resources, the visual fidelity of Nvidia’s latest gameplay demo will make it hard to ignore the subtle details that make Resident Evil Requiem‘s infected some of the most terrifying enemies we’ve seen in the series, at least from a lore standpoint.
Systems
- Released
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February 27, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Engine
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RE Engine
