A lot of hype is currently circulating aroundResident Evil Requiem,with fans finally getting their first glimpses at the next major steps for the longstanding franchise. With over four years having passed since the launch of the well-receivedVillage, Capcom is already moving forwards with a new mainline installment to the series, with the recentSummer Game Festshowcasing the game’s reveal trailer alongside a spate of other exciting announcements across the industry.
WhileResident Evil Requiem’s allotted time at Summer Game Fest was fairly brief, its trailer did well to give fans a solid overview of the narrative, locations, and involved characters of the game, capping things off with a solid release date: Jul 15, 2025. Rumors, theories, and leaks have dominated the discourse around the nextResident Eviltitle for some time now, with the protagonists of the game being a point of particular interest, and the reveal trailer forRequiemlined up with many popular theories by confirming Grace Ashcroft as a new major character. Leon Kennedy has also been heavily theorized to appear as a protagonist in the game, and while the trailer does not outright confirm this, it seems extremely likely that this will be the center ofRequiem’s next major reveals.
Leon Kennedy’s Involvement in Resident Evil Requiem Makes the Next Steps for the Game Quite Clear
The recentreveal trailer forResident Evil Requiemplaced a large focus on Grace Ashcroft as a major protagonist for the title, with the character being the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, who first appeared in 2003’sResident Evil Outbreakas a Raccoon City survivor who aimed to expose the Umbrella Corporation in her role as an investigative journalist. At least partly,Resident Evil Requiemwill see Grace as an FBI agent investigating a series of mysterious deaths, eventually leading the character to the ruins of Raccoon City.
The trailer forRequiemconfirms that Alyssa Ashcroft was murdered at a place called the Wrenwood Hotel, with this being another location that will seemingly appear in the title as part of Grace’s investigation.
Of course,Raccoon Cityis one of the most famous locations from the widerResident Evilfranchise, being the primary setting of many past entries. Following the events of 1999’sResident Evil 3and the bombing of the location, Raccoon City lies desolate and barren, though many of its most recognizable structures still remain somewhat intact. It appears that players will once again revisit Raccoon City throughout the events ofRequiem, although it seems that there is much more to the title than what currently meets the eye.
ProminentResident Evilleakers, such as Dusk Golem, have long stated thatRequiemwill feature at least two distinct playable characters, withLeon Kennedyholding a major protagonist presence in the game. The initial reveal of Grace Ashcroft seems to somewhat corroborate these theories, with it seeming more likely that Capcom would wait a bit longer to fully reveal Leon’s involvement closer to the game’s release.
A Future Announcement of Leon in Resident Evil Requiem Would Create a Perfect Storm For the Title
Of course,Leon Kennedy is one ofResident Evil’s fan-favorite faces, with the character being heavily linked to Raccoon City throughout his franchise appearances, making his involvement inRequiemall the more likely. As a much older man than what fans have seen before, the presence of Leon inResident Evil Requiemwould be a fascinating prospect, with some fans even theorizing that a barely-visible figure seen in the game’s reveal trailer could be Leon himself.
The premise andconfirmed locations ofResident Evil Requiemseem to all be pointing towards Leon’s presence in the title, with many fans already treating the character’s appearance as a sure-thing. With the most dominating theories and supposed leaks surrounding the game all corroborating Leon Kennedy as a protagonist in the upcoming game, it seems as if Capcom has smartly kept its cards close to its chest, with such an exciting reveal being the perfect way to sweeten the deal forRequiemas its release draws near.
