PlayStation Store Leak Confirms Leon’s Presence in Resident Evil Requiem After Ongoing Speculation

I’m stunned—absolutely stunned!—to discover that Leon S. Kennedy will be making an appearance in Resident Evil Requiem. This has been the hot topic among fans for months, especially since the sequel was teased during Summer Game Fest. The confirmation didn’t come from some insider tip or wild speculation but rather from the PlayStation Store itself, which inadvertently revealed this exciting news. It seems the full reveal was meant to be part of this week’s Game Awards 2025 showcase.

The buzz began earlier today when some PSN users shared footage of a pre-order notification that featured game cover art showcasing Leon alongside the new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. Others chimed in with similar notifications about auto-download options, and it has since been confirmed that the circulating screenshots are legitimate. The game is set to launch on February 27, 2026, indicating that Capcom was likely holding back Leon’s reveal as a final surprise to build excitement before the release.

???? MASSIVE RE9 LEAK ????

Leon S. Kennedy has leaked on the PlayStation store ahead of the game awards and is shown on the game’s poster with Grace. He has the RE4R design but is much older as @AestheticGamer1 stated before. @SpookyHoo #RE9 #Leak

CREDIT TO : bluewav_ on YouTube pic.twitter.com/ntGsO10iKl

— Mr. Kennedy (@Tylerpbel) December 9, 2025

Leon has been a staple of the franchise since Resident Evil 2, also appearing in RE4 and RE6. Thanks to the fantastic remakes of both RE2 and RE4, this Italian-American police officer turned federal agent has become a beloved character in the survival horror series. The reveal of RE9 earlier this year sparked speculation about his return, especially since Capcom was tight-lipped about any footage beyond the game’s opening and played coy about whether FBI agent Grace would be teaming up with any Resident Evil veterans.

Producer Masato Kumazawa even publicly dismissed rumors about leaked images of Leon that circulated last month. “There has been a photo lately of Leon with an eyepatch, and just basically saying there’s a DLC or a new costume for Leon—but just to make sure, these are all fake news,” he told an outlet in an interview. It was a commendable attempt.

The PlayStation Store notification wasn’t the only leak for Requiem this week. GameStop also seemed to reveal some previously undisclosed content. Long-time Resident Evil leaker AestheticGamer (formerly known as Dusk Golem) shared a listing for the Deluxe Edition of the PC version, hinting at another potential playable character and a new game mode. The bonus rewards include the “Sanctuary” expansion pass for two new story scenarios, a significant “Mercenaries mode,” a unique cosmetic for Rose, and three exclusive outfits for Rosemary Winters.

GameSpot seems to have accidentally posted additional Deluxe Edition content for Resident Evil Requiem, which includes some spoilers, such as Mercenaries Mode, Grace having an “FBI Visor” mechanic, and two planned story DLC for RE9. pic.twitter.com/7HoZbqTUzp

— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) December 7, 2025

This strongly suggests that Rosemary will be a character players can control at some point, unless the cosmetics are specifically for another mode. She is the daughter of Resident Evil Village protagonist Ethan Winters and was just a baby during that game. However, AestheticGamer seems a bit skeptical about the accuracy of the listing. Store listings are often created by employees, which means they can sometimes be outdated, incorrect, or entirely fabricated. We’ll find out the truth soon enough.