Who is Grace Ashcroft, and what is her role in Resident Evil 9 Requiem?

The Resident Evil 9: Requiem trailer dropped at Summer Game Fest 2025 and shook the fandom to its core. Not because of another Umbrella experiment gone wrong (though that is happening again), but because Capcom introduced a brand-new face: Grace Ashcroft. But she's not just any side character. She's the main protagonist. Here’s everything you need to know!

Meet Grace Ashcroft – FBI Tech Genius with a Past

Grace Ashcroft is an FBI technical analyst who’s suddenly thrown into the field when mysterious deaths start cropping up. In the reveal trailer, Grace is pulled from her desk, literally mid-report, and tossed into the frontlines of a bizarre investigation to inform her about another victim of an unidentified disease. His words?

"I need your eyes on the crime scene.

The Wrenwood Hotel. That’s where your mother was murdered."

Yes, she's the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak.

A Legacy Tied to Raccoon City

So why does Grace matter? Longtime fans will recognize her last name. Her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, was a playable character in Resident Evil Outbreak. She was an investigative journalist who escaped Raccoon City before it was nuked. Now, nearly three decades later, Grace is returning to her mother’s past — to the ruins of Raccoon City itself.Alyssa was killed eight years ago while investigating the Wrenwood Hotel. Now, Grace is being pulled into the same mystery. There’s a heavy implication that whatever happened to Alyssa may be connected to the new outbreak. The personal stakes? Through the roof.

Grace vs. the Resident Evil Universe

Grace isn’t a soldier like Chris or a secret agent like Leon. She’s a technical brain, meaning she’s likely going to approach problems differently. Her FBI role suggests she’ll rely on data, logic, and investigation — a refreshing contrast to the usual guns-blazing style of past protagonists.

But make no mistake, Grace isn’t just there to push paper. She’s in the thick of it — and the trailer shows her facing terrifying, infected creatures while trying to make sense of the patterns connecting the victims.

Is Leon Kennedy in the Mix?

Fans are buzzing. A hooded figure appears in a flashback during the trailer, and speculation is rampant that it's Leon S. Kennedy. Could he have known Alyssa? Was he at the Wrenwood Hotel the night she died? Could Grace and Leon’s paths collide — or clash?It's all mystery for now. But if Leon is involved, it sets up a powerful mentor vs.

rookie dynamic — or something even darker.Grace Ashcroft isn’t just a new character; she’s a new chapter. With her FBI skills, tragic backstory, and ties to a forgotten survivor, Resident Evil 9: Requiem looks ready to deliver chills, chaos, and maybe a few long-awaited answers. February 27, 2026, can’t come soon enough.