Capcom’s next survival horror entry is already causing chaos among physical collectors, and it’s happening weeks before launch. Resident Evil Requiem isn’t officially scheduled to release until February 27, yet a small number of players claim they’ve already received their copies. As you’d expect, that’s pushed the community into full spoiler-alert mode, with story details and screenshots starting to circulate online.
One of the most attention-grabbing claims comes from a player who shared photos of a sealed Resident Evil Requiem Steelbook Deluxe Edition for PS5. How a retail copy ended up in a gamer’s hands this early isn’t confirmed, but these kinds of shipping mishaps do happen, especially around major releases. Recent years have seen multiple high-profile examples of launch-day media spreading early due to distribution errors, and fans are increasingly wary whenever early copies slip out.
Beyond the packaging leak, early impressions are also beginning to surface. A player with advance access compared Resident Evil Requiem’s structure to past entries, pointing to Resident Evil 3 as a reference while suggesting Requiem feels less linear overall. The takeaway: exploration may play a larger role, with the game encouraging players to move off the main path rather than funneling them through a tight sequence of set pieces.
There are a couple of details fueling that theory. For one, the reported PS5 install size is over 72GB, which has some fans guessing the game contains areas or content that aren’t strictly tied to the critical path of the main campaign. At the same time, early chatter suggests a typical playthrough could land around 15–20 hours. If that estimate holds, Resident Evil Requiem would offer a longer run than Resident Evil Village, which is sure to appeal to players who want a meatier survival horror experience.
As the leaks spread, the biggest debate is over the rumored cast and story beats tied to what many are calling “RE9” discussion. Some fans are especially skeptical about claims involving major characters. One widely shared rumor suggests Leon Kennedy could die by the end of the game. Another claims Claire Redfield may have already been killed off by a virus and won’t appear, despite ongoing speculation she would return. Naturally, those ideas are dividing the community, especially among fans who’ve wanted to see Claire back in a major role after Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica.
Right now, none of these story claims can be verified. However, one circulating screenshot is getting more attention than the vague plot summaries. It appears to show Leon aiming at the T-00 Tyrant—better known as Mr. X, the iconic trench coat-wearing bioweapon who relentlessly pursued Leon and Claire in Resident Evil 2. Even so, fans are urging caution, since fake screenshots and edited images are easier than ever to produce with modern tools.
For anyone trying to stay unspoiled, the safest move is to mute key phrases and avoid comment sections until release week. Reportedly, reviews for Resident Evil Requiem are expected to go live on February 25, just two days before launch. Until then, Capcom fans may be stuck navigating a growing wave of spoilers, speculation, and questionable “leaks” as physical copies continue to surface early.
