Capcom has revealed new details about a free minigame heading to Resident Evil Requiem in May, and players who haven’t yet rolled credits on the survival horror hit will want to pick up the pace. Director Koshi Nakanishi and producer Masato Kumazawa confirmed in a recent interview that the add-on is combat-focused and locked behind completion of the main campaign.
Speaking to Japanese outlet Denfaminicogamer, Nakanishi described the minigame as being “strictly based” on Requiem’s battle mechanics, designed for players hungry for more action after finishing the story. “For those who’ve cleared the main game and are thinking, ‘I still haven’t had my fill,’ I think it’ll be something that makes you go ‘Whoo-hoo!!’” the director said, playfully urging fans to “sharpen your tomahawks” in preparation, as reported by Eurogamer.
Producer Kumazawa echoed the sentiment, suggesting that players in Japan use the upcoming Golden Week holiday — running from April 29 through May 5 — to finish the campaign so they’re ready when the minigame drops. The mode is currently described as being in its “final stages” of development, with a release window of sometime around May. While Capcom hasn’t given it an official name, fans widely speculate it will be Requiem’s take on the franchise’s beloved Mercenaries mode, which traditionally features wave-based combat encounters and the chance to control additional characters, according to IGN.
The minigame isn’t the only post-launch content on the horizon. Nakanishi has previously confirmed that full story DLC is also in the works, though he cautioned it remains a long way off. When pressed about lingering narrative mysteries — including the meaning behind a certain piece of jewelry Leon is seen wearing — the director was coy, saying only that answers would come “someday,” but that someday isn’t now.
Resident Evil Requiem has been a massive commercial triumph for Capcom since launching earlier this year. The game has already sold seven million copies, making it the fastest-selling entry in the long-running franchise and prompting the publisher to raise its annual profit forecast. Critics have been equally enthusiastic, with the game earning widespread acclaim for its dual-protagonist structure pairing series veteran Leon S. Kennedy with newcomer Grace Ashcroft.
For anyone who still hasn’t finished Requiem’s main storyline, the clock is ticking. With the combat minigame expected within weeks and potentially more surprises on the way, now is the time to dive back into Raccoon City and see the story through to the end.