Resident Evil Requiem Director Puzzled Why Raccoon City Isn’t Completely Wiped Out


Raccoon City Remains Despite the Apocalypse
Fans of Resident Evil 3 might have noticed a surprising detail in Resident Evil Requiem. Although Raccoon City was supposedly destroyed to stop the T-Virus outbreak, the city isn’t completely flattened as one might expect. Many buildings, though damaged, are still standing, creating a visual that seems inconsistent with the original timeline where the city was annihilated by a nuclear-like strike.
Kazuhiro Aoyama, director of the original Resident Evil 3, expressed his amusement and confusion in the Under the Mayo podcast. He admitted he didn’t understand why remnants of the city still exist, joking that perhaps some time-travel shenanigans are involved. It’s worth noting that Aoyama has not been directly involved with CAPCOM for years, and the modern games follow the remake timeline, which explains the differences.

The key lies in the type of bomb used in Requiem. Instead of a traditional nuclear explosion, a vacuum bomb was employed. This weapon removes oxygen to create an intense heat wave, eliminating living beings and zombies rapidly, but leaving well-built structures partially intact.
About Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem continues the survival horror saga with Grace Ashcroft, daughter of resilient journalist Alyssa, who survived the 1998 T-Virus outbreak. Grace is mysteriously murdered, and players must guide her through nightmarish memories, which may connect to the forgotten events of Raccoon City.
The game launches on 27 February 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, powered by the advanced RE Engine for next-gen platforms. Expect highly realistic characters, environments, and storytelling in the ninth main installment of the series.