Kazuhiro Aoyama, the director behind Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999), has expressed uncertainty over the continuity shown in Resident Evil 9: Requiem, after the upcoming game appeared to reintroduce Raccoon City and its landmarks — locations that were canonically obliterated in his original work.
In the 1999 title, Raccoon City was depicted as completely destroyed following the detonation of a powerful missile, marking a definitive end to the city and its role in the Resident Evil narrative. Aoyama said the creative choice was intentional, designed to close the chapter on the outbreak storyline.
However, recent previews of Resident Evil 9: Requiem reveal scenes featuring the Raccoon City Police Department and other familiar locations largely intact, suggesting a reinterpretation of the series’ established timeline. Aoyama reportedly found this direction confusing and speculated that unconventional narrative elements could be involved.
The game’s current director, Koshi Nakanishi, has acknowledged that revisiting iconic settings sometimes requires taking creative liberties. He suggested that the development team focused on exploring the atmosphere and emotional connection to these locations rather than strictly adhering to past depictions.
While many long-time fans have welcomed the nostalgic return of Raccoon City, others have questioned the decision to alter such a pivotal event in the series’ lore, reigniting debate about how far the franchise can stretch its continuity without losing coherence.