Resident Evil 9 Leak Reveals Scrapped Open-World Plans

New details about an abandoned version of Resident Evil 9 have surfaced, suggesting that Capcom originally planned a large open-world action game featuring several familiar characters from the franchise.

According to insider Dusk Golem, the early project was reportedly known as Resident Evil Apocalypse before development was reworked into Resident Evil Requiem.

As reported by My Nintendo News, the original concept featured Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, Sheva Alomar, and two additional characters.

The story allegedly took place on a fictional island near Singapore following a major biological outbreak. Chris Redfield had been arrested after the events of Resident Evil Village, while the BSAA served as the main antagonist.

Sheva's mission reportedly involved rescuing Chris, with tensions developing between the protagonists. Leon distrusted Jill because of her connections to the BSAA, while Sheva remained suspicious of Ada.

The abandoned version reportedly emphasized action over traditional survival horror. Players could explore the island using vehicles, while an infection meter inspired by Resident Evil Outbreak would monitor their characters' condition.

Capcom was also said to be using technology associated with Dragon's Dogma 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds to support the larger environments.

According to the leak, the studio eventually restarted development and reduced the number of protagonists. Jill was briefly considered as an AI-controlled companion before being removed, while the concept of a character encountering horror for the first time evolved into Grace Ashcroft.

These details remain unverified, and Capcom has not officially confirmed the reported development history of Resident Evil Apocalypse.