The highly anticipated Resident Evil 9: Requiem continues to generate heated discussion, as well-known community insider AestheticGamer (also known as Dusk Golem) has revealed new information. Through a series of social media updates, the insider shared that Capcom is developing at least one DLC for the upcoming survival-horror title, which is expected to focus on Alyssa as the central playable character—supporting speculation that the narrative will be expanded through post-launch content. Dusk Golem initially stated: “Requiem definitely has at least one DLC currently in development, and I’ve heard multiple times that Alyssa will serve as the protagonist.”
Beyond DLC news, the insider also disclosed the game’s winding development history. When asked about early concepts, Dusk Golem explained that a project temporarily dubbed Resident Evil 8.5 or Apocalypse was initiated in 2017. It was originally planned as a co-op online game, meant to diverge from the critically acclaimed but slow-selling Resident Evil 7. In 2019, the project shifted into an early form of Resident Evil 9, but was ultimately scrapped sometime in late 2020 or early 2021. The current Requiem fully inherits the Resident Evil 9 title.
Additional details describe the abandoned “Apocalypse” version as an open-world co-op game set on a fictional island inspired by Singapore, featuring four playable characters, including Leon and Jill. Capcom is said to have internally released clips of this version. Strong community interest in Leon Kennedy’s appearance prompted the insider to elaborate, clarifying that the earlier “eyepatch” image and a Sony page description were both fake. He referenced previous concept descriptions: “His temples have gone gray, he initially wears a black jacket (later removed in line with series tradition), and his stubble gives him a rougher look—but he’s still very much Leon.”
The discussion also touched on expectations for additional modes. While Dusk Golem did not have concrete information regarding the return of The Mercenaries mode, he expressed strong confidence that it will be included, as every mainline entry has featured such content—even if added through post-launch updates.