Resident Evil Requiem gets encouraging update

Resident Evil Requiem has been officially rated by the ESRB one month before its release date. There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the latest in Capcom's beloved horror franchise, with several big reveals that the studio struggled to keep under wraps, and the wait is almost over. Now that Resident Evil Requiem has an official rating, the impending launch day feels more real than ever.

The Resident Evil franchise has undergone something of a revival with its recent releases. Resident Evil 7 and Village was hailed as a return to form, and now the latest entry tries to take this trend even further, aided in large part by one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming. After months of leaks and rumors, Capcom confirmed it Resident Evil Requiem will feature the return of Leon Kennedy, and fans won't have to wait long to play as the fan-favorite character once again.

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Resident Evil Requiem receives an M rating from the ESRB

The official ESRB website now has a formal rating for Resident Evil Requiem: an unsurprising M for Mature. While the M rating itself may not be anything out of the ordinary, the fact that the game has received any official rating is a good sign of its development progress. Back before it was even revealed, Resident Evil Requiem was reportedly delayed, resulting in its current release date of February 2026 instead of a rumored initial target of January 2025. This new update should allay concerns about another delay, as the ESRB doesn't issue ratings until it has a near-final version to evaluate.

The details of the M rating also shed some light on what players can expect. Early previews have hinted at that Resident Evil Requiem offers a balance between action and survival horror, and the ESRB's rating summary confirms this. It mentions some pretty intense descriptions of monsters and horrific environments while saying that players will use everything from guns to explosives to chainsaws to “dismember and decapitate enemies,” so it sounds like there's plenty of scares and action-packed battles to go around. Overall, the description makes the game seem equal parts exciting and terrifying, which should come as welcome news to fans of the classic Resident Evil game.

The rating also includes the small but important mention of in-game purchases. Capcom has already revealed several editions of the game, but these additional purchases could also mean that DLC is on the way at some point. At least one leaker has claimed so Resident Evil Requiem will receive DLC, suggesting that the content in question may include Alyssa Ashcroft, mother of the main character and Resident Evil newcomer Grace. Both Resident Evil 7 and Village got DLC, so it wouldn't be a big surprise if Requiem followed the same trend, but it's still a good sign. Of course, the ESRB synopsis gives no indication of what this DLC or other purchases might contain, so fans will have to wait for more information.

There are still some rumors unconfirmed. Some had speculated about it Resident Evil Requiem could get a PS4 version, but right now the ESRB only lists PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 under the game's supported platforms. That doesn't mean a PS4 port is off the table, but if such a version is in the works, it likely won't arrive until after launch. Thankfully, that day isn't far off now, as the February 27th release date isn't likely to be pushed back any further now that the ESRB has reviewed a nearly finished copy of the game.