Capcom has clarified that Leon S. Kennedy is not the protagonist in the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, describing him as a “bad match for horror.” This statement comes amid fan speculation about whether Leon might still be secretly playable in the game.
During the Capcom Spotlight 2025 broadcast, the new protagonist was revealed to be Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, a fresh character type for the Resident Evil series. The developers aimed to create a character who experiences horror similarly to the player, learning to overcome fears while maintaining calm and deductive reasoning.
Despite fans spotting clues hinting at Leon’s presence, such as his old truck outside the Raccoon City Police Department ruins, director Koshi Nakanishi explained that making a horror game centered on Leon is challenging because he is too experienced and unflappable to fit the horror genre effectively.
Nakanishi stated, “We always thought about making Leon the protagonist, but making a horror game based around him is difficult. He wouldn’t jump at a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing. So he’s actually quite a bad match for horror.”
While Leon is ruled out as the lead, Capcom has not completely dismissed his involvement in the game. With over six months until release, more surprises may still be revealed.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to launch on February 27, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
