Leon S Kennedy is Back in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem is set to launch on February 27, and up until now Capcom has kept most of its story and character details tightly under wraps. That secrecy just took a hit. Thanks to an early slip on the PlayStation Store, players now have strong confirmation that fan favorite Leon S Kennedy will be part of the next mainline Resident Evil.
Players who pre purchased the non deluxe digital version of Resident Evil Requiem on PlayStation and checked their preload info were greeted with updated cover art. This new key art clearly shows Leon standing alongside Grace Ashcroft, the character Capcom has been publicly pushing as the new lead.
For anyone who has followed Resident Evil rumors, this reveal lines up with earlier leaks. Known series leaker Dusk Golem had previously claimed that Leon would be in the game and that he would be the main character, though not the only playable one. Until now, that was all speculation. The updated cover art makes it clear that Leon is not just a cameo. He has major billing.
Capcom and the game director Koshi Nakanishi have repeatedly insisted that Grace is the protagonist of Requiem. Early hands on impressions from behind closed doors demos suggested that something was being held back, and many fans suspected a bigger twist around the cast. The combination of Grace in the forefront of marketing and the ruined remains of Raccoon City in trailers had already put Leon at the center of fan theories.
Nakanishi even tried to tamp things down by saying Leon was not a good fit for Requiem’s heavier horror vibe, because no one wants to see Leon scared by everything. That comment now looks more like deliberate misdirection meant to preserve a big surprise reveal.
A Leak That Probably Jumped The Game Awards
The timing of this leak suggests it was not supposed to happen yet. With The Game Awards just around the corner, Capcom was likely planning a dramatic trailer or stage reveal that officially confirmed Leon’s role in Resident Evil Requiem. Instead, a marketing or store asset update appears to have gone live early on the PlayStation back end.
Cover art is never a perfect indicator of story focus, but Leon’s size and placement on the updated image strongly hint that he is central to the game. He stands next to Grace rather than being relegated to a small background cameo. That visual framing alone makes it hard to believe he is just a short guest character.
Of course, Capcom can still play with expectations. The story could open with Leon and then switch to Grace. Leon could be playable for only part of the campaign. Or in a darker twist, Grace might witness Leon’s death early on to set the tone and raise the stakes. Taking down such a capable character would be an effective way to convince players that no one is safe in this entry.
Regardless of how Capcom structures the campaign, fans now know that the series is not ready to move completely past Leon yet. For players who grew up with Resident Evil 2 and 4, his return instantly makes Requiem more interesting.
The Other Requiem Leak That Probably Is Not Real
Leon’s leak on the PlayStation Store is backed by real artwork and direct experience from players who already own digital copies. Another supposed leak around Resident Evil Requiem is far less convincing.
GameStop recently added listings for Requiem deluxe editions. Early versions of those listings apparently mentioned costumes for Rosemary Winters, the daughter of Resident Evil 7 and Village protagonist Ethan Winters and the lead of the Shadows of Rose expansion. The listings also referenced a cosmetic filter tied to some sort of detective style visor, suggesting a visual effect that would make the world look like it was being viewed through special lenses.
These details raised eyebrows for the wrong reasons. Rosemary has not been part of any of Capcom’s official messaging around Requiem. Dropping her name in a store description with no build up or context feels oddly abrupt. The detective visor filter sounds out of place as well and reads more like generic flavor text than a carefully planned feature reveal.
Dusk Golem and others in the Resident Evil community have urged fans to treat this particular leak very cautiously. The wording has the vibe of placeholder or even AI generated text that never got removed before the page went live. GameStop’s initial listing has already been altered, which adds to the sense that this was not a source Capcom controlled as tightly as its own assets.
Compared to the clear evidence of Leon on PlayStation’s updated key art, the Rosemary Winters mention does not hold up. Until Capcom itself showcases Rosemary or talks about crossover elements from Village and Shadows of Rose, this part of the rumor mill is best treated as speculation rather than something to bank on.
What This Means For Resident Evil Fans
These leaks together paint an interesting picture of where Resident Evil Requiem might be heading. On one side, you have Grace Ashcroft presented as a new protagonist meant to carry the series forward. On the other, the PlayStation Store leak practically confirms that Capcom is not abandoning the legacy of its most popular characters just yet.
For players, it means Requiem is shaping up to be a blend of fresh blood and returning icons. Expect the run up to launch to include a more polished, official look at Leon in action and how he shares the spotlight with Grace. Fans who have been theorizing since the first teaser can feel a bit vindicated. Leon really was hiding in the wings after all.
As more trailers and previews drop, keep an eye on how Capcom describes playable perspectives, campaign structure, and the balance between horror and action. If Leon is as central as the cover suggests, Requiem could end up walking a fine line between the scarier tone Capcom has been promising and the confident action hero energy Leon naturally brings to the survival horror formula.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/resident-evil/playstation-store-accidentally-confirms-leon-is-in-resident-evil-requiem-with-an-early-peek-at-new-cover-art/
