After much anticipation and speculation, the existence of Resident Evil 9, officially titled Resident Evil Requiem, was finally confirmed during Summer Game Fest 2025. Its debut trailer surprised many fans with the return of Raccoon City and the reveal of a brand-new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. However, this major reveal did little to quell ongoing speculation that fan-favourite Leon S. Kennedy would also return.
Rumours have been swirling online suggesting Leon would serve as a second protagonist alongside Grace in the upcoming entry. These claims gained enough traction to warrant a direct response from Capcom during this morning’s Capcom Spotlight event.
Game Director Koshi Nakanishi addressed the topic head-on. He admitted that the team had indeed considered making Leon the main protagonist but ultimately decided against it. According to Nakanishi, incorporating Leon into a pure horror-focused game proved to be a mismatch.
He elaborated by saying that Leon’s established persona makes it difficult for players to accept him as a vulnerable character. “No one wants to see Leon startled or afraid every few seconds,” Nakanishi said, jokingly noting how odd it would be for Leon to react in fear to something as mundane as a falling bucket.
Resident Evil Requiem Gameplay Revealed
Interestingly, the same session also included a brief gameplay showcase that countered earlier thoughts about Grace being a passive character akin to Ashley from Resident Evil 4. In the new footage, Grace is shown wielding a pistol, establishing her as a fully capable survivor in line with other protagonists in the series.
The video also confirmed that players will have the option to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. Additionally, Capcom demonstrated its attention to visual detail, such as the complex hair physics required to portray Grace hanging upside down realistically.
Despite Capcom’s direct denial regarding Leon’s role, the rumour mill remains active. Fans were quick to question why Capcom chose to address only Leon and not other iconic characters, such as Chris Redfield. The way Resident Evil Requiem was dramatically revealed through a deceptive stage moment at Summer Game Fest has only added fuel to the speculation.
Resident Evil Requiem is scheduled for release on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S consoles, and PC.
