Capcom's landmark free update is a resounding success — active players up 40%, Steam reviews surging, and the new Mercenaries map setting leaderboard records.
RE:9 Requiem's Update 2.0 has exceeded Capcom's expectations, driving a 40% increase in daily active players across all platforms since its release earlier this week. The update — which added New Game Plus+, two new Leon campaign chapters, and a fresh Mercenaries map — has been met with overwhelmingly positive reception from both critics and the community.
Steam concurrent player counts for RE:9 Requiem climbed to their highest level since the game's launch months ago, with over 28,000 simultaneous players recorded on Saturday. The game's recent review rating has also improved to "Very Positive" as returning players leave glowing feedback about the new content. The New Game Plus+ mode in particular has been singled out for praise, with its dynamic enemy placement system breathing new life into the campaign's already tense atmosphere.
The new Mercenaries map — set in a derelict Mediterranean resort overrun by Molded variants — has become an instant hit with competitive players. Leaderboards are seeing record activity, with the current global high score sitting at 2,847,000 points, set by a Japanese player using the handle "KamiRE9." The map features multiple environmental hazards including collapsing hotel sections and beachfront ambush zones, forcing players to constantly adapt their routing.
Capcom has already acknowledged the update's success in an internal earnings brief, with the company noting that RE:9 Requiem's lifetime sales are expected to push past 10 million units following the content injection. The two new Leon chapters — set in a flooded underground laboratory and an abandoned Gothic cathedral — have been praised for their puzzle design and narrative tie-ins to the broader Resident Evil lore.
For players diving into Update 2.0 fresh, our recommendation is to tackle the Leon expansion chapters first on Standard difficulty to acclimate to the new enemy placements, then jump into New Game Plus+ for the full dynamic difficulty experience. The new "Survivalist" difficulty option provides a balanced challenge for veterans looking for fresh tension without the frustration of the harder modes. We'll continue tracking speedrun records and Mercenaries strategies as the community refines their approaches.