Resident Evil Requiem Almost Forced Grace Into Ethan Winters’ Most Terrifying Experience

The world of Resident Evil has always been filled with gruesome surprises, and the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem almost included one of the franchise’s most disturbing ideas yet. In a recent interview, the game’s developers revealed that the new protagonist, Grace, was nearly subjected to a horrific body horror sequence inspired directly by one of Ethan Winters’ darkest moments in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

A Gruesome Idea That Didn’t Make the Cut

Speaking with IGN, director Koshi Nakanishi and producer Masato Kumazama discussed how the team initially explored ways to heighten the game’s sense of dread. At one point, the developers considered having Grace lose a leg during gameplay—mirroring Ethan’s infamous hand loss in Resident Evil 7. According to Nakanishi, the concept was ultimately deemed “too extreme” and never progressed into the final stages of development.

Fans of the series will remember how Ethan suffers multiple shocking injuries, including having his hand severed and later reattached with crude tools provided by the sinister Baker family. He can even lose a leg during certain sequences, only to reattach it himself with the help of a healing serum. While these grotesque body horror moments were unforgettable in Resident Evil 7, developers feared that repeating the same shock tactic with Grace might feel redundant rather than terrifying.

Balancing Horror and Player Experience

Capcom’s team emphasized that their goal with Resident Evil Requiem is not to simply outdo the brutality of previous entries, but to craft a balanced experience that captures the essence of survival horror. The series has shifted dramatically over the years—Resident Evil 4 introduced more action-oriented mechanics, while Resident Evil 5 and 6 leaned even further into combat-heavy gameplay, a move that split the fanbase. After the backlash to Resident Evil 6, Capcom steered the franchise back toward its horror roots with Resident Evil 7 and continued refining the formula in Resident Evil Village.

With Requiem, the developers want to preserve the intensity of survival horror without relying solely on gore. Players will have the ability to experience the game from both first-person and third-person perspectives, offering different levels of immersion and fear. Those who choose first-person mode will step directly into Grace’s shoes, while third-person mode provides a slightly more detached, cinematic angle.

What Fans Can Expect Next

Although the leg-loss concept was scrapped, fans should not expect Resident Evil Requiem to be any less terrifying. The game is still packed with unsettling environments, psychological tension, and classic survival mechanics. Details about the story remain tightly under wraps, but speculation is swirling about potential returning characters—including hints of Leon Kennedy’s involvement.

As the next major entry in the long-running horror franchise, Resident Evil Requiem appears poised to deliver the kind of chills fans have come to expect, while also experimenting with fresh ideas that keep the series evolving. One thing is clear: even without borrowing every gruesome detail from Ethan Winters’ past, Grace’s journey is shaping up to be a nightmare worth experiencing.