Resident Evil Requiem Game Awards Tease Fuels Leon Reveal Hype

Resident Evil fans feel that we might finally get to see Leon S. Kennedy in a new Requiem reveal at The Game Awards next week.

As the days draw near to the release of Capcom’s next entry in the Resident Evil series, fan hype continues to build, and I’m right there with them. At least in a mainline series, in Resident Evil Requiem, we’ll be going back to Racoon City for the first time in nearly 30 years.

When Resident Evil was released in 1996, we were taken to the Spencer Mansion, in the Arklay Mountains, on the outskirts of Raccoon City. Our first introduction to Raccoon City was with Resident Evil 2 in 1998 (my favourite video game of all time).

In Resident Evil 2 (as well as its 2019 remake), it starred Leon S. Kennedy (Nick Apostolides) and Claire Redfield (Stephanie Panisello), who initially began with very different paths until fate intervened and they both embarked on a mission to expose Umbrella for the T-Virus outbreak in Raccoon City.

Resident Evil Requiem will star at least one new protagonist with Grace Ashcroft (no relation to the Ashcrofts in Resident Evil Code: Veronica, apparently), daughter of the news reporter, Alyssa, from the criminally underrated Resident Evil Outbreak.

Will Leon Kennedy Return in Resident Evil Requiem?

There have been tons of rumours circulating that Leon S. Kennedy will appear in Resident Evil Requiem either as a second playable character or supporting NPC. It’s also believed that if he does appear in the game, it could be a befitting soirée, ending at the place where it all began for him.

Of course, talk of Leon being in Resident Evil Requiem is pure speculation at this point, so we should take it with a pinch of salt until proven otherwise. That being said, after The Game Awards host, Geoff Keighley, announced that Capcom’s game will be at the event, renewed hope has sparked once more among fans.

“I'm calling it, reveal incoming,” declared PaviMelange, sharing a gif of Leon from the Resident Evil 4 remake.

“IT'S TIME FOR LEON, LET'S GET IT! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” yelled GJX.

“He is coming,” revealed phantompain_v.

“I’m waiting for this guy,” said iryukxx,” sharing a different Resident Evil 4 remake gif.

I’m a believer of no smoke without fire (mostly), and I’d be somewhat surprised if Leon S. Kennedy did not appear in the new reveal next week at The Game Awards, but we shall see.

Resident Evil Requiem will be released on 27 February 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.