Resident Evil Requiem drops the Merchant, blames his debt

That odd merchant might have vanished because he owes way too much - like three trillion pesetas worth. Capcom tossed out the idea as a playful jab at how often players haggled with him in the Resident Evil 4 remake. His pockets were drained thanks to nonstop trades, upgrades, and shady swaps with Leon S. Kennedy. Heavy spending by gamers possibly sank him into financial ruin.

It’s surprising how a simple throwaway line can spark so many strange ideas, especially when you start thinking about the Merchant possibly relying almost entirely on Leon, which feels odd in hindsight. The idea that he may have survived the game’s finale could explain how he ended up buried in debt—unless, of course, the records are wrong. Valuables traded back then, like gems and ancient trinkets, would likely skyrocket overtime. Perhaps he kept everything tucked away, banking on timing things right. Then again... decades have passed without a move.

That odd little comment might sound silly, yet it stirs up real memories of leaning on the Merchant through long hours in the game. Always there, always waiting, he slipped quietly into moments that shaped how things felt. Without him around in Requiem, something seems off, even if only by a whisper. Sure, he may never show up in this next chapter - but the reason given doesn’t sit like fact. It lands more like a wink, tossed casually by the developers.