Resident Evil Requiem fans convinced Leon is still playable despite being “bad match for horror”

Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem won’t feature Leon S. Kennedy as its main protagonist, but that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating that the fan-favorite agent will still play a key role in the upcoming game.

During the Capcom Spotlight 2025 broadcast, it was revealed that Leon was originally considered for the lead role in Requiem. But director Koshi Nakanishi said they ultimately scrapped the idea because Leon just doesn’t fit the tone they’re aiming for.

He explained that Leon is “a bad match for horror” because he’s too confident and unfazed to make players feel real fear. “We always thought about making Leon the protagonist,” Nakanishi continued, “but making a horror game based around him is difficult. He wouldn’t jump at a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing.”

Instead, Requiem puts players in the shoes of Grace Ashcroft, a quiet FBI tech analyst with a personal connection to the Raccoon City incident. It’s a shift toward vulnerability and suspense – a slower, more grounded style of survival horror.

Leon S. Kennedy may still be in Resident Evil Requiem

Capcom

But that hasn’t stopped fans from digging into every detail, convinced Capcom is holding something back.

On Reddit, many are calling Capcom’s statement a misdirection tactic. Some point out that Nakanishi never actually said Leon isn’t in the game, only that he’s not the main character, while others believe his action-heavy background makes him perfect for a secondary playable role, similar to how Chris Redfield was used in Resident Evil Village.

There’s also speculation that Capcom is saving a mid-game reveal or hiding Leon’s involvement entirely until closer to launch.

The most common theory? Leon will appear in limited action-focused segments that break up the horror pacing. Whether it’s a cameo, a flashback, or a full playable sequence, fans are convinced he’s not gone for good.

Capcom has remained tight-lipped since the reveal, but the studio has a track record of pulling off surprise character drops in the past. If Leon is in Requiem, we may not know until much closer to release, or until players find out for themselves.

For now, Grace is front and center. But in true Resident Evil fashion, there’s always a chance Leon shows up just when things start to spiral.