Resident Evil Requiem's director was always curious to return to Raccoon City: "It was like rice I'd left forgotten in the rice cooker for a week... eventually curiosity makes you lift the lid"

Resident Evil Requiem.

Resident Evil Requiem's director has explained that returning to Raccoon City was basically to satisfy the developer's own curiosity more than anything.

Resident Evil Requiem is in a unique place as far as the series lore goes. Rather than continue from the aftermath of Resident Evil 7 and 8's Ethan storyline, or return to one of our long-term heroes for one last ride (although Leon is definitely happening), Capcom has opted to bring in a new protagonist while returning to where it all began.