The Return of the Tall Vampire Lady: A Major Selling Point for RE Requiem

Capcom has officially confirmed one of the most highly anticipated pieces of news for fans of the Resident Evil franchise: the Deluxe Edition of the upcoming game, Resident Evil Requiem (often referred to as RE9), will include an exclusive cosmetic that allows players to dress the new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, in the iconic attire of Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village. This decision leverages the immense, viral popularity of the towering antagonist, transforming a simple in-game costume into a significant selling point for the premium version of the new survival horror game.

The confirmation came as Capcom unveiled the pre-order details and contents of the Deluxe Edition across various platforms, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The inclusion of the Lady Dimitrescu Costume—officially listed as Grace’s Costume: Dimitrescu—is undoubtedly the highlight of the Deluxe Kit for many fans, demonstrating Capcom’s keen awareness of community engagement and the power of their characters as a gaming cosmetics product.

The Deluxe Edition, typically priced around $79.99, is marketed as “a must-have for true survivors” and packs a considerable amount of extra content to justify the premium price tag:

• Five Costumes, including the much-sought-after Grace Ashcroft Skin: Dimitrescu.
• Four Weapon Skins, with a theme related to the old “Apocalypse” leaks, such as the S&S M232 Weapon Skin: Apocalypse.
• Two Filters, including the nostalgic Filter: Apocalypse.
• Two Charms, notably featuring the fan-favorite Charm: Mr. Raccoon.
• An Audio Pack: Raccoon City Classic for a dose of retro nostalgia.
• Additional lore in the form of Files: Letters from 1998.

More Than Just a Meme: Game Details on Resident Evil Requiem

Resident Evil Requiem, scheduled for release on February 27, 2026, is the ninth mainline installment, developed using the powerful Capcom RE Engine. It promises a return to the series’ classic survival horror roots, focusing on combat, investigations, puzzles, and resource management. The setting returns to the devastated backdrop of Raccoon City, approximately 30 years after its destruction.

The protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst, is described as an introverted and non-traditional hero, whose investigation into her mother’s death at the abandoned Wrenwood Hotel unearths secrets about the original Raccoon City outbreak. A key new gameplay feature is the ability to freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, offering players a choice between intense, immersive tension and a broader situational awareness—a unique blend of the series’ recent and classic camera styles.

The decision to include the Dimitrescu Costume so prominently is a clever move by Capcom. Lady Dimitrescu’s overwhelming online success following the launch of Resident Evil Village transformed her into an undeniable pop-culture icon, and her costume now serves as an irresistible incentive for fans to spring for the more expensive Deluxe Edition, boosting pre-order numbers significantly. This strategy effectively turns a piece of fan-driven culture into a concrete business advantage, ensuring the Deluxe Edition is a high CPC search term.

Would you like a more detailed breakdown of the Resident Evil Requiem gameplay mechanics or an analysis of its setting in Raccoon City 30 years later?