While Capcom hasn't officially confirmed development, industry leaks point to Resident Evil 9 being one of the most anticipated horror titles in the making. The franchise's last main installment, Resident Evil Village, debuted in 2021, followed by the record-breaking RE4 Remake which surpassed 10 million sales faster than any series entry.

The 2026 Release Window Speculation

German leaker Andi from ScreenFire Germany suggests Capcom is targeting January-March 2026 for RE9's launch, with a potential reveal at Summer Game Fest (June 6-10, 2025). Though Andi lacks extensive credibility, his claims were corroborated by renowned insider Dusk Golem (Aesthetic Gamer), who has accurately leaked RE information before.

Reinventing Survival Horror Again

Dusk Golem's earlier reports indicate RE9 will implement groundbreaking changes mirroring:

1. RE4's 2005 shift to action-horror
2. RE7's 2017 first-person reboot

The project allegedly began development post-RE7 with initial uncertainty about the franchise's direction. Early concepts included an open-world multiplayer mode - since abandoned - that would have featured Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine as playable characters.

Managing Expectations

While evidence suggests RE9 is in development (including potential teasers in recent Capcom releases), fans should await official confirmation. The 2026 timeline aligns with Capcom's typical 4-5 year gap between mainline entries, but pandemic-related delays could affect schedules.