Resident Evil Requiem fans believe next month’s mysterious content update will add a new version of the franchise’s The Mercenaries mode after an alleged datamine leak revealed tense new music.
The already strong rumors that Capcom would soon reanimate its classic arcade offering started to hold more weight for players after X/Twitter user @MasyaSYRKOV said they uncovered previously unheard tunes while “digging” through the game’s files. The 10 tracks shared don’t seem to be associated with any specific kind of naming convention, but a few key details have players thinking it could be our first taste of a new Mercenaries mode for the ninth mainline entry in the survival horror series.
Resident Evil Requiem has its fair share of intense moments, but allegedly datamined tracks like Track 7 and 9 lean a bit harder into the high-octane sounds one might expect from The Mercenaries. The real nail in the coffin, though, is Tracks 3 and 4, which are backed by a constant ticking noise, suggesting they could be tied to the kind of time-based events the mode is known for.
Where past core Resident Evil experiences primarily focused on delivering undead action structured around a thrilling story, Mercenaries plops players into arenas for an arcade-style shooting gallery that often comes with time limits, special abilities, and more. The mode is also known for featuring a variety of playable characters, with the Resident Evil 4 remake incarnation, for example, allowing players to tap in not only as Leon S. Kennedy or Ada Wong but also villain characters, such as Jack Krauser and Albert Wesker, too.
There’s no telling if we’ll see the supposedly leaked tracks eventually make their way into Resident Evil Requiem, but fans have at least some reasons to expect that The Mercenaries or an equivalent mode will be available in the near future. Capcom announced in March that a series of post-launch additions were in development with plans to arrive in the coming months.
One of the add-ons included a “mini-game” set to launch in May. Players already suspected this same mini-game could be a Mercenaries mode, so today’s news has only added fuel to the fire. However, it’s worth noting that Capcom has confirmed little about what the future of Resident Evil Requiem looks like, so it’s best not to expect much from the post-launch plans until a more official announcement arrives.
The lack of official confirmation hasn’t stopped some from spinning theories regarding which characters a Resident Evil Requiem Mercenaries mode could include. Leon, of course, makes the most sense, with others hoping to step into the shoes of Grace Ashcroft and maybe even the imposing Victor Gideon, too. The mysterious Zeno is another face players are hoping to see return, as it could present an opportunity to see more of what the character is capable of.
Resident Evil Requiem launched February 27, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. We gave it a 9/10 review, saying at the time that it “successfully splices two separate strains of survival horror together into the one highly infectious new mutation.” For more on Capcom’s latest, you can read about the mod videos the publisher recently had removed.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
