The Game Awards is likely to reveal Leon’s appearance in Resident Evil Requiem.
A long-awaited reveal for Resident Evil Requiem has seemingly been leaked ahead of time, and via the PlayStation Store no less. A leaked image of the upcoming game’s cover art features an aged version of Leon S. Kennedy, finally confirming the iconic Resident Evil protagonist’s appearance in this new installment.
Leon’s level of involvement in Requiem is currently unknown. The sequel takes place roughly 30 years after he made his debut in Resident Evil 2, which means that we’ll soon see a 50-year-old Leon return to the scene of his greatest nightmare.
Here’s the leaked cover art, courtesy of IGN:
Resident Evil Requiem prematurely reveals Leon S. Kennedy’s inclusion via pre-orders
This week’s confirmation of Leon S. Kennedy being in Resident Evil Requiem appears to be an accident on Capcom’s part. On 9 December, pre-order customers of Resident Evil Requiem’s standard edition spotted a very different version of existing cover art in the game’s pre-download screen.
The cover art once again features protagonist Grace Ashcroft, the star of the survival horror game’s marketing to date, with a new imposing character in the background. This new figure is unmistakably Leon S. Kennedy, with his signature blond hair and fringe. He even seems to be wearing a leather bomber jacket lined with fur, calling back to his appearance in Resident Evil 4.
However, Leon looks quite a bit older here than in past appearances, with a full beard in tow. That’s because Resident Evil Requiem is set roughly 30 long years after his horrific experiences at the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil 2. Leon was a mere 21-year-old rookie cop at the time, which means that he’s barely in his fifties in Resident Evil Requiem.
Capcom has played mum over Leon’s inclusion in Resident Evil Requiem, only teasing that he wouldn’t fit into the game’s more horror-fuelled sections, as he isn’t likely to get as scared as series newcomer Grace. Still, speculation over his impending arrival has been fuelled largely by the fact that Resident Evil Requiem is returning to Raccoon City; Leon’s old stomping grounds.
The game is returning to Raccoon City, and specifically the charred remains of the Raccoon City Police Department, via a new investigation carried out by Grace. She stumbles onto a new nightmare while investigating a series of new deaths seemingly connected to her late mother Alyssa Ashcroft.
We’ll likely learn more about Leon’s involvement in Resident Evil Requiem at The Game Awards 2025, where Capcom might show off a new trailer with an official reveal for the iconic series protagonist. Stay tuned for our live coverage of the event on 12 December, 2025.
Resident Evil Requiem will launch on 27 February, 2026. We played an early demo of the game at Tokyo Game Show 2025; check out impressions of the demo here.
