RE9's Release Window Leaks Are a Double-Edged Sword

One of the biggest mysteries in gaming right now is Resident Evil 9. Capcom's horror franchise has had a strong few years, and the promise of Resident Evil 9 has a lot of fans eager for an official reveal. All that has been confirmed so far is that RE7 director Koshi Nakanishi is returning. Beyond that, only rumors and leaks have given insight into what might be in store.

Any rumor or leak needs to be taken with a heavy dose of salt, but if a recent claim holds true, then RE9 may be closer to launch than one might expect. A fresh leak has made the bold claim that RE9 will be announced this week, along with a 2026 launch date. The claim suggests that Capcom is eyeing a Q1 release for RE9, and while it's exciting that the game could potentially be kicking off the new year, the title may also have the difficult task of keeping its head above water once GTA 6 comes out.

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By Dalton Cooper

If Resident Evil 9 Locks In a 2026 Release Date, GTA 6 Will Be Lurking Around the Corner

If released in Q1, RE9 would arrive sometime between January and March 2026.
The leak also claims that RE9 will make an appearance at Summer Game Fest, which airs on Friday, June 6.

There are only a few days until Summer Game Fest, an event that a lot of Resident Evil fans are suddenly looking forward to, thanks to these new rumors. Of course, only time will tell if the leak proves true or not, but a Q1 2026 release for RE9 has some big pros and cons to consider.

GTA 6 is set to launch on May 26, 2026.

RE9 in 2026 Has One Clear Upside

Beyond the obvious benefit of having to wait less than a year for the game to be here, the biggest upside to a Q1 2026 release is that RE9 can get a little bit of time in the spotlight before GTA 6. So far, the 2026 calendar is looking a little bit bare, and for good reason. Navigating the launch of a game in the year GTA 6 releases has to be incredibly daunting for developers, and releasing ahead of Rockstar's highly-anticipated game may be the best bet to garner some success. As beneficial as that approach could be for Capcom, there seem to be more downsides overall.

No Matter What Quarter Capcom Chooses, RE9 Doesn't Have Much Time to Breathe

Even if RE9 comes out several months before GTA 6's May launch target, the horror title may still struggle. One of the biggest mysteries about GTA 6 right now is its price point, and if the Rockstar game costs more than is typical, a lot of gamers may be saving money and not buying other games. RE9 may get to launch ahead of GTA 6, but that doesn't mean it's safe from feeling the effects of the latter's massive hype.

On the flip side, if RE9 still proves to be hugely successful with its sales in Q1, the excitement may quickly fade, since GTA 6 will be waiting on the horizon. It seems as though any game planning to launch in 2026 could find itself in a losing situation no matter what quarter is chosen. The Resident Evil franchise is incredibly popular, but the GTA franchise is a completely different beast, especially with so much excitement already behind it.

After already being delayed once, there is still the chance that GTA 6 could be pushed back again.

RE9 Could Introduce a New Era of the Franchise

There have been plenty of rumors about the next Resident Evil game, and claims that RE9 could reinvent the series in the same way that RE7 did are compelling. If Capcom brings forth a bold enough change, RE9 could still likely draw a lot of attention before GTA 6 takes center stage.

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