There is no doubt that Leon S. Kennedy is one of the most popular characters in the Resident Evil franchise. We first saw him as a recruit trying to do his duty. Slowly, he emerges a hero and a saviour for almost everyone who crosses paths with him. Leon appeared in Resident Evil 2, which launched back in 1998, for the first time. We then got to see him in Resident Evil 4 which launched in 2005. Both the games have since been remastered for modern-day consoles. And now, the epic character is returning to a brand new game, Resident Evil Requiem.
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A new trailer of Resident Evil Requiem was showcased during The Game Awards and it made headlines instantly. This was because Leon was introduced as a playable character in the trailer, looking older than the previous games. He enters in his signature style – subtle but noticeable and takes down a few enemies in the trailer. Towards the end of the trailer, Leon is also seen using a new weapon – the chainsaw.
Leon’s return makes complete sense narratively. The game follows FBI technical analyst Grace Ashcroft as she investigates strange deaths at the Wrenwood Hotel, the same place her mother Alyssa died. Her journey also takes her through the ruins of Raccoon City, including the police department where Leon once worked. With both characters’ stories intersecting in meaningful ways, it feels like the right moment for Leon to step into the spotlight again.
Requiem is shaping up to be one of Capcom’s most mysterious projects in years. Ever since its reveal at Summer Game Fest 2025, the studio has maintained almost total silence. Footage has been minimal, details have been scarce and fans have been left piecing together theories. That silence finally cracked this week when a new Japanese TV broadcast showed proper gameplay for the first time.
The clip, shared online by well known leaker Dusk Golem, featured Grace Ashcroft walking through a dim corridor before taking aim at a slow moving zombie. She misses the first shot, gets grabbed and bitten, and is forced to shake it off while another zombie emerges from the shadows. The atmosphere is straight out of classic Resident Evil. Cramped hallways, slow tension, limited visibility and the kind of panic that defined the early games.
Resident Evil Requiem will release on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and PC on February 27, 2026.