Resident Evil has long been a cornerstone of survival horror, evolving from its tense, resource-scarce roots in the 1990s to blending cinematic action, deep lore, and atmospheric dread in recent entries.
With Resident Evil Requiem (officially Resident Evil 9), released on February 27, 2026, the series enters a bold new era.
Bringing back fan-favorite Leon S. Kennedy in a photorealistic, immersive experience, Requiem redefines the genre by marrying intense first-person horror with intricate puzzles, high-stakes action, and emotional storytelling.
It pushes boundaries further than ever, delivering one of the highest-rated mainline entries yet and shattering sales records, surpassing 6 million units faster than any previous title in the franchise.
Amid this massive success, a quirky real-world twist has captured fans' attention: a hidden in-game Easter egg involving a secret website domain that Capcom seemingly overlooked registering.
In Resident Evil, there is what's called the BSAA, or Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance.
It's one of the most prominent organizations in the Resident Evil universe: an international counter-bioterrorism agency, officially sanctioned by the United Nations, dedicated to combating the global threat of bio-organic weapons (B.O.W.s), viruses, and bioterrorism in the aftermath of the Umbrella Corporation's collapse.
Later in the game, players can use BSAA computer screens to save and access files.
Here, eagle-eyed players should be able to spot a URL buried in lines of code: NEWDAWN-capcom.com.
Among the gibberish words on the BSAA's computer in RE9, there's a domain called “NEWDAWN-capcom . com” i tried searching it, but nothing came up. The only relation to “NEWDAWN” i could think of are “Through the Darkness” lyrics & Wesker's quotes in RE4R/RE5. #REBHFun pic.twitter.com/SRdn9rKZZn
— Resident Leo. (@RacconSurvivor) March 9, 2026
This appears deliberate, likely a tease for promotional content, an ARG (alternate reality game) element, lore expansion, or even future DLC.
References to "New Dawn" tie into series themes, like lyrics from "Through the Darkness" or its antagonist's quotes in past games, sparking speculation about narrative connections (including nods like Leon's license plate "ND=9642").
However, the domain wasn't secured by Capcom.
Shortly after players shared screenshots on March 9, 2026, a YouTuber and Valve enthusiast named Gabe Follower registered it for just $15. He was surprised it was available and grabbed it casually after seeing the buzz online. The site now redirects to his holding page with contact info, turning what might have been an official tie-in into an accidental in-game "ad" for a Half-Life/Gabe Newell fan content creator.
"I really like RE games and was scrolling through news after finishing Requiem," Gabe Follower said.
"Saw someone talking about this domain and decided to check it. I was genuinely surprised no one registered it, so I've spent $15 bucks just for fun."
He then toyed with ideas like a fake ARG or a Rickroll but held off, keeping it lighthearted. Gabe Follower has since stated he'd happily return the domain to Capcom for free if they reach out. No strings attached.
"I will give it 'back' for free, lol," Gabe Follower said.
This domain snafu adds a fun, meta layer to Requiem;s launch, showing how the series' immersive world can spill into reality in unexpected ways.
