Leon Kennedy Joins the Cast of Resident Evil Requiem

We know that FBI agent Grace Ashcroft will take center stage as the main character in Capcom’s upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, but players have been speculating for months about the potential return of another familiar face. Recent leaks suggest that Leon Kennedy will indeed make an appearance in the game.

According to reports, the game’s key art was accidentally uploaded to the PlayStation Store ahead of schedule. Although the image has since been taken down, players managed to capture some screenshots before it disappeared. The cover art features Grace Ashcroft—daughter of reporter Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak—holding a flashlight or lantern, with a striking silhouette of Leon Kennedy looming behind her.

This hints that, unlike the brief Chris Redfield cameo at the end of Resident Evil 7, Leon will have a significant role in Requiem. With only Grace and Leon depicted in the artwork, it suggests that he will be crucial to the story, even if he isn’t the main protagonist.

Back in June, game director Koshi Nakanishi hinted that Leon might not be included, citing his calm demeanor as potentially unsuitable for horror games. However, it now appears that Nakanishi may have been trying to keep Leon’s involvement a secret.

The Game Awards are just around the corner, and it’s been confirmed that Capcom will showcase a new look at Resident Evil Requiem—set to launch on February 27—during the event. It’s likely that the awards show was intended to be the platform for announcing Leon’s return. With the early leak of the key art, the surprise has already been revealed.

The Game Awards will take place on Thursday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. EST / 4:30 p.m. PST.