Resident Evil 7: Biohazard became a watershed moment for the series.
The series moved into first-person for the first time, a choice Nakanishi made to deepen the sense of immersion and fear.
Many agree it was successful, perhaps excessively so. Players and critics agreed it was one of the scariest entries in the series, but that level of fear also created a barrier.
Some people couldn’t handle the intensity, while others abandoned the game midway or refused to start altogether.
Reflecting on this, Nakanishi admitted that the design choice might have been “possibly too scary.”
Why Did Capcom Include Both First- And Third-Person Modes?
Nakanishi’s return to direct Resident Evil Requiem centers on making the horror more accessible while staying faithful to the franchise.
He chose to let the game be played in both first-person and third-person from launch.
The goal, he explained, wasn’t to strip away the fear, but to provide an option so that players who might otherwise be shut out could still experience the story.
With the camera pulled back to show Grace Ashcroft on screen, the third-person view creates a bit of distance between the player and the horrors.
What Changes When Playing in Third-Person?
This decision shapes more than viewpoint since third-person displays Grace stumbling, flinching, or fearing enemies.
These moments don’t trivialize the danger but briefly interrupt the chase, allowing the player a window to recover.
Nakanishi described them as small breaks that counter the pressure and open the experience to more players.
The outcome is a film-like presentation where Grace embodies the archetypal “final girl,” giving the game the vibe of a survival-horror movie.
Will Resident Evil Requiem Still Be Scary?
Despite this change, the fear factor in Requiem isn’t going anywhere.
He isn’t aiming to make the “scariest Resident Evil ever,” but the game will still deliver plenty of unsettling moments.
Kumazawa stated that the game remains faithful to the series by combining resource management, puzzle-solving, exploration, and action.
The base structure is preserved, simply framed with greater flexibility.
What Lessons Did Capcom Take From Village?
This dual-perspective approach also draws inspiration from past entries, such as Resident Evil Village, which initially started out as a first-person-only experience but later introduced a third-person mode through DLC, which became widely popular.
With Requiem, the feature was included from the start, so no post-release updates were necessary.
Players can tailor their experience from the opening scene by choosing the suffocating dread of first-person or the more manageable tension of third-person.
Some worry the two modes clash, but others see it as freedom for players to choose their preferred way to experience the fear.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a preview expected at the Tokyo Game Show later this year.
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