Did Nintendo just turn a chainsaw into a misfiring punchline? The Partner Direct spotlight on Resident Evil: Requiem did more than remind fans that the game lands on Switch 2 on February 27, 2026 — it produced one of those awkward moments that spread across timelines: Leon S. Kennedy repeatedly missing obviously close-range shots in the official trailer, while Capcom and Nintendo showed off amiibo and a themed Pro Controller.
What Nintendo revealed (and when)
The practical news is tidy: Requiem launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 on February 27. A Resident Evil Requiem–branded Switch 2 Pro Controller will be available the same day, and two amiibo — one for Grace Ashcroft and one for Leon — were teased during the showcase with a summer 2026 window given for their arrival.
Capcom demonstrated how the amiibo will function: they unlock cosmetic weapon skins. The trailer lingered on a neon-themed handgun skin for Leon — a bright, almost jokey look that feels deliberately at odds with Requiem’s bleak corridors. If you’re the kind of player who saves goofy unlocks for repeat runs, that neon pistol will be irresistible.
The missed shots and why people noticed
What drove the chatter wasn’t the amiibo: it was the editing. Viewers pointed out several clips in the trailer where Leon fires at enemies and misses by wide margins, swings a chainsaw into empty air, or where impact frames are cut away. Social posts compared the Partner Direct version to other cuts (some found online or in publisher reels) in which hits land cleanly and blood flies.
Some of that is almost certainly intentional. Nintendo has long curated its presentations for a wide audience, and toning down explicit gore in a multi-game showcase makes corporate sense. But the result here looks less like tasteful restraint and more like someone asked the actor to be comically bad at aim. The difference is noticeable — and oddly entertaining.
Does it matter? A marketing quirk or a real misrepresentation?
It depends who you ask. For parents or casual viewers watching a 30-minute showcase, those edits smooth edges and keep the broadcast broadly palatable. For fans, collectors and potential buyers, the trailer’s choices risk misrepresenting Requiem’s tone and systems. The game itself — from previews and hands-on coverage — is being framed as a dual-protagonist experience that balances Grace’s tense, stealth-heavy horror with Leon’s more action-oriented sequences. Preview writers praised the game’s stealth beats and varied enemy behavior; they’re unlikely to be fooled by a few soft cuts.
Still, the comedic aspect can have a life of its own. When a big company trims violence by making a seasoned in-universe marksman look like he’s just discovered firearms, it invites memes and commentary. It’s marketing that gets talked about — which, ironically, keeps the game in public view.
What this says about Switch 2 positioning
Nintendo is juggling a lot as it promotes third-party heavy hitters on a newer platform: keep presentations accessible, show off third-party support, and sell hardware. That balancing act comes as the Switch 2 continues to gather momentum — a context worth noting given Nintendo’s recent optimism about the system’s performance and release line-up. The console’s growing third-party library and confirmed launch windows for major titles are part of the larger push to make Switch 2 a serious choice for multiplatform releases; Requiem’s presence on the stage is an example of that strategy in action. See how Nintendo recently reconfirmed release plans for Switch 2 titles and raised its Switch 2 sales forecast as evidence the company wants these presentations to reach everyone.
Collector notes and timing
If amiibo are part of your collecting itch: expect Grace and Leon figures to land sometime in Summer 2026. The Pro Controller arrives at launch alongside the game; if you like hardware variants that match a title’s aesthetic, that’s the immediate purchase point. For everyone else: previews suggest Requiem’s core loop — stealth, environmental puzzles, and sudden, lethal encounters — remains intact regardless of how a curated trailer chooses to portray it.
Whether you laugh at Leon’s aim or groan at the censorship-by-negligence approach, the episode highlights a small but telling tension in modern game marketing: how to show mature, intense experiences on a stage meant for all ages. And if nothing else, it proves trailers can still surprise us — sometimes for reasons the developers never intended.