Capcom's upcoming Resident Evil Requiem will feature undead adversaries capable of using tools because they retain fragments of their pre‑turn memories, director Koshi Nakanishi has confirmed. The clarification comes ahead of the game's 27 February launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC.

Speaking through an interpreter, Nakanishi explained that designers wanted the franchise's iconic chainsaw to feel meaningful in this entry. "The zombies can actually use tools. They have retained some of their memory pre‑turning into a zombie," he said, adding that that memory retention justifies enemy behaviour such as wielding a chainsaw.

Sponsored

The director emphasised a logical design progression: if an enemy uses a chainsaw, other infected can pick it up after it is lost, and the player should also have access to the same weaponry. "If one enemy with the chainsaw is defeated, it makes sense for the other zombies to pick it up and to be able to use it. And so from there... of course, you as the player also want to use it," Nakanishi said.

That approach alters combat dynamics and tension. Allowing infected to employ tools raises the stakes in encounters, creating more unpredictable skirmishes in which improvised weaponry can shift threat levels mid‑fight. The chainsaw's inclusion was framed as both a practical combat decision and a nod to series nostalgia, acknowledging the weapon's long association with Resident Evil.

Nakanishi also used the interview to reiterate that Requiem is not an open‑world title, stressing a curated design focused on atmosphere and pacing rather than expansive exploration. The director framed the game's mechanics and enemy behaviour as deliberate choices intended to bolster suspense and deliver classic survival‑horror beats.

Requiem arrives on consoles and PC on 27 February. Further details on weapons, enemy types and level design are expected as Capcom rolls out additional previews and developer commentary in the coming weeks.