RE:9 Requiem June 10 Update Detailed Preview — New Game+, Mercenaries Stages, and What Comes Next
Capcom's massive June 10 update for Resident Evil 9: Requiem is nearly here. Full preview of New Game+ mechanics, expanded Mercenaries mode with Leon and Jill, new stages, and post-launch roadmap hints.
When Capcom announced back in late May that a major content update was headed to Resident Evil 9: Requiem on June 10, the community braced for something substantial. After all, RE:9 has already shipped an impressive eight million units worldwide, making it one of the fastest-selling entries in the franchise's storied history. But even by Capcom's standards, the scope of what's coming next Tuesday is remarkable.
We've combed through the official press materials, developer commentary, and datamined information to bring you the most complete picture of the June 10 update. Here's everything you need to know.
New Game+ — A Fresh Way to Experience the Horror
The headline feature is the addition of a full New Game+ mode. Unlike the standard post-game chapter select, New Game+ allows players to restart the entire campaign from the prologue while retaining all weapons, upgrades, key items, and character progression from their save file. Enemy placements have been reshuffled, and several early-game areas now feature mid-game enemy types — meaning that first run-in with a Pale Drifter in the cathedral courtyard might surprise you with a much deadlier variant.
Perhaps most intriguingly, New Game+ introduces a new currency — "Requiem Tokens" — which are earned by defeating bosses and completing bonus objectives exclusive to the NG+ playthrough. These tokens can be exchanged at a newly added vendor in the safe room for exclusive cosmetics, including alternate costumes for Grace, Leon, and Rosemary. Among the most coveted items is the "Classic RPD" outfit for Leon, a direct throwback to his Resident Evil 2 appearance.
Mercenaries Mode Expansion
The Mercenaries mode, which launched with a modest selection of three stages and four playable characters, receives its first major expansion. Two brand-new stages — Abandoned Observatory and Underground Reservoir — are being added. Both stages feature dynamic environmental hazards: the Observatory is periodically plunged into total darkness by passing storm clouds, while the Reservoir's water level rises and falls, changing the map's layout mid-round.
Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine join the Mercenaries roster as playable characters, each with unique loadouts and abilities. Leon's kit emphasizes precision and crowd control — he starts with the iconic Matilda handgun with burst-fire capability and the shotgun with a wider spread. His unique ability, "Survivor's Instinct," highlights enemy weak points for five seconds. Jill, meanwhile, brings agility and explosive power, equipped with the Samurai Edge and a grenade launcher. Her "STARS Combat Training" passive grants faster reloads and increased critical hit chance when health is below 30%.
Quality of Life Improvements
Beyond the headline content, the patch brings a host of quality-of-life fixes that the community has been requesting since launch. These include: a toggle for auto-pickup of crafting materials; the ability to skip cutscenes that have already been viewed (a long-overdue addition); improved aim assist curves for controller users; and a significant optimization pass for the PlayStation 5 version that targets a stable 60 FPS in performance mode even during the most chaotic combat encounters.
Post-Launch Roadmap Hints
Perhaps the most tantalizing aspect of the June 10 update is what it hints at for the future. The RE Engine file structure of the patch includes references to additional Mercenaries characters — Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, and even a mysterious "HUNK" entry — suggesting that Capcom plans to continue expanding the mode through future updates. Additionally, references to "DLC_Campaign_01" and "DLC_Campaign_02" were discovered by dataminers, aligning with the premium story DLC that Capcom confirmed earlier this week.
With the June 10 update landing in less than a week, the next chapter of Resident Evil 9: Requiem is almost here. Whether you're diving back in for New Game+ or climbing the Mercenaries leaderboards, there's never been a better time to revisit the Requiem.