“Raccoon City’s Requiem” – Epic Games Store Secures Fortnite Crossover for the Next Resident Evil Blockbuster

The gaming world is buzzing with an unprecedented partnership announcement that bridges the gap between survival horror and the dynamic world of battle royale. Capcom has confirmed a major crossover event between their highly anticipated mainline title, Resident Evil Requiem (often referred to as RE9), and Epic Games’ juggernaut, Fortnite. This landmark collaboration is specifically tied to the game’s debut on the Epic Games Store and guarantees exclusive in-game items for players who pre-order the next terrifying chapter in the Resident Evil saga.

Set for a definitive release on February 27, 2026, Resident Evil Requiem is poised to deliver a chilling new narrative, focusing on FBI agent Grace Ashcroft as she investigates mysterious events in a post-destruction Raccoon City. The collaboration with Fortnite not only marks Capcom’s first official game launch on the Epic Games Store but also strategically places one of the year’s most significant AAA video game releases squarely in the promotional spotlight of one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.

The Strategic Tie-In: Exclusive Rewards and High-Value Keywords

This is not merely a cosmetic add-on; the nature of the exclusivity and the timing of the announcement position this crossover as a high-impact marketing move. For players looking to maximize their digital investment, this deal offers a compelling incentive. The core of the immediate reward revolves around the game’s new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, and the highly coveted Gaming Legends Series within Fortnite.

• Exclusive Fortnite Outfit: Players who purchase Resident Evil Requiem via the Epic Games Store will receive the Grace Ashcroft Outfit for use in Fortnite. This exclusive reward is scheduled for distribution shortly after the game’s official release, specifically in March 2026. This character outfit transforms the survival horror heroine into a Battle Royale combatant, providing a unique cosmetic option.
• Pre-Order Bonus: The base pre-order bonus across all platforms includes Grace’s gritty “Apocalypse” costume, but the Epic Games Store edition layers the Fortnite content on top, creating a particularly attractive pre-purchase offer for dual fans.
• High CPC Keywords Targeted: The marketing surrounding this collaboration is heavily leveraging phrases like “Fortnite Exclusive Content,” “Resident Evil Requiem Pre-Order Bonus,” and “Epic Games Store Exclusive”—all terms with historically high Cost Per Click (CPC) value in the gaming advertisement space, indicating a concerted effort to capture a large, high-intent audience.

The integration of a new-generation horror game with a family-friendly Battle Royale title underscores the current trend of widespread IP crossovers in the industry, proving that no franchise is off-limits when it comes to maximizing player engagement and market reach. For Capcom, this not only ensures a strong launch presence on a new digital storefront but also instantly introduces their new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, to a global audience of millions in the Fortnite community.

Diving Deeper into Resident Evil Requiem (RE9)

While the crossover news is compelling, the details emerging about Resident Evil Requiem itself are equally significant for survival horror fans. Developed using Capcom’s proprietary and highly praised RE Engine, the game is a technological showcase that promises to push the boundaries of graphical fidelity and immersive terror. Early reports indicate the game will be set approximately three decades after the infamous Raccoon City incident, allowing the development team to explore the enduring consequences of the bio-terrorism outbreak.

Key Details on the Upcoming Title:

• Protagonist: FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of a character from the Resident Evil Outbreak spin-offs, making her a legacy character of sorts. The developers have described her as an ‘introverted bookworm,’ a deliberate shift from the combat-ready veterans like Leon Kennedy or Chris Redfield, suggesting a renewed focus on vulnerability and pure survival.
• Setting: The narrative returns to the ruins of Raccoon City, which will be presented with a chilling post-apocalyptic aesthetic. This return to the series’ most iconic location has fueled massive hype among long-time followers of the horror video game franchise.
• Gameplay Perspective: In a move to cater to both new and old players, Requiem will offer a choice between the series’ recent first-person perspective (which is the default, emphasizing horror) and the more classic third-person perspective (offering a more action-oriented feel). This feature adds significant replay value and accessibility.
• Engine Advancements: The RE Engine is reportedly utilizing advanced rendering techniques like path-traced lighting, including ray-traced global illumination and shadows, promising hyper-realistic environments and truly terrifying lighting dynamics—essential components for high-quality next-gen gaming on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The confluence of a return to Raccoon City, a new protagonist built for pure survival, and cutting-edge visual technology positions Resident Evil Requiem as one of the most important 2026 gaming releases. The choice of perspective alone is a strategic decision that could influence how future installments of the survival horror genre are designed.

The Current State of Resident Evil in Fortnite

This is not the first time the chilling world of Resident Evil has intersected with the bright, vibrant island of Fortnite. The franchise has a successful, albeit periodic, history within the Fortnite Item Shop. Previous collaborations have brought fan-favorite characters, including Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine (from the S.T.A.R.S. Team set), as well as Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield (from the Raccoon City Survivors set), to the Battle Royale arena.

The new Requiem collaboration, however, stands out because of its direct transactional nature—a reward for purchasing the new game on a specific storefront—rather than a general Item Shop release. This strategy effectively uses the massive reach of the Fortnite player base to drive Epic Games Store sales for a major third-party title. It’s a sophisticated demonstration of cross-platform promotional synergy that major publishers are increasingly utilizing to boost initial sales figures.

The Broader Implication for Game Developers:

• The model sets a precedent for developers to offer exclusive, high-value digital rewards in popular live-service titles to boost sales on specific partner platforms.
• It reinforces the “Gaming Legends” status of the Resident Evil franchise, solidifying its position alongside other titans of the industry that have graced the Fortnite universe.
• For players, it signifies that new-release gaming IP will continue to be a primary source for fresh, desirable cosmetic content in Fortnite Battle Royale.

Further details on additional collaboration items, such as potential Back Blings, Pickaxes, or Emotes inspired by Resident Evil Requiem, are expected to be announced closer to the game’s February 2026 launch and the subsequent distribution of the Grace Ashcroft outfit.

Final Analysis: A Win-Win for Horror and Battle Royale Fans

The confirmation of the Fortnite x Resident Evil Requiem crossover is a significant piece of gaming news. It’s a calculated, high-visibility promotional endeavor that achieves multiple goals: it drives traffic and sales to the Epic Games Store, provides a major early incentive for Resident Evil pre-orders, and introduces the new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, to an enormous global audience. For both the Fortnite community and the dedicated survival horror enthusiasts, this fusion of two disparate but immensely popular worlds represents a truly modern gaming partnership.

Stay tuned to our news feed for the official Capcom Resident Evil Showcase early next year, where we expect to receive a deeper look at the terrifying gameplay, the expansive narrative of Requiem, and potentially, a glimpse of the exclusive in-game Fortnite content.