Resident Evil Requiem producer says "Leon's counterpart" Grace is "easily frightened" because you're meant to relate to her – but I think even horror vets should be disturbed by a monster who sniffs your stink

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Resident Evil Requiem producer says "Leon's counterpart" Grace is "easily frightened" because you're meant to relate to her – but I think even horror vets should be disturbed by a monster who sniffs your stink News By Ashley Bardhan published 15 January 2026

My stink is none of your business

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You don't see people like Resident Evil Requiem protagonist Grace Ashcroft often in the franchise, which is usually inhospitable for any character who isn't a gunslinging special agent bubble-wrapped in a bullet-proof vest. But Capcom producer Masato Kumazawa says Grace's inexperience is her strength – her screams are meant to echo your own.

"As Leon's counterpart," Kumazawa tells GamesRadar+ in reference to himbo hero Leon Kennedy, "we introduced Grace, an easily frightened character who is experiencing a biohazard situation for the first time. We felt this would deliver a fresh experience not seen in past RE titles, and that players would grow attached to Grace, sharing her fears."

Grace, daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak's murdered journalist Alyssa, is an FBI agent… from the comfortable distance of her office desk. Resident Evil Requiem makes her belly flop into the deep end after she's made to investigate a strange death at the Wrenwood Hotel, where her mother was killed years ago.

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"Of course," Kumazawa disclaims, "she will fight, resist, and grow as the story progresses, and we hope you will experience the exhilaration of overcoming fear alongside her."

But, in Grace's defense, I imagine even the most confident Resident Evil veteran will be disturbed by Requiem's new stalker monster, who stumbles around looking for you while deeply inhaling your smell. According to Kumazawa, this stalker's "actions further reinforce the impression of 'fearful Grace' with new added twists such as breaking through ceilings and walls, or sniffing the air to heighten the player's unease."

Remind me to spritz on some Chanel before I get infected with T-virus.

By offering two very different protagonists, Resident Evil Requiem aims to marry "the most terrifying horror and the most thrilling action."

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Capcom CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch 2 Xbox Series X PC Gaming PS5 Platforms Nintendo Xbox PlayStation Ashley BardhanSenior Writer

Ashley is a Senior Writer at GamesRadar+. She's been a staff writer at Kotaku and Inverse, too, and she's written freelance pieces about horror and women in games for sites like Rolling Stone, Vulture, IGN, and Polygon. When she's not covering gaming news, she's usually working on expanding her doll collection while watching Saw movies one through 11.

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