Where’s Leon in Resident Evil 9: RE Requiem? What We Know So Far
🎮 Where’s Leon in Resident Evil 9: RE Requiem?
Here’s What We Know (And What We’re Just Hoping For)
The Resident Evil universe is back with a new title—and it’s official. Resident Evil Requiem, a.k.a. Resident Evil 9, has finally been announced by Capcom. It’s launching on February 27, 2026, and fans are already buzzing with excitement… and a bit of confusion.
While the game looks amazing—new protagonist, dark story, and a return to Raccoon City—there’s one name that’s strangely missing from all promotional materials: Leon S. Kennedy.
So, the big question is:
Where is Leon in all this?
Let’s dive into what Resident Evil Requiem is all about, what Capcom has confirmed, and whether there’s still hope for Leon’s return.
🧟♂️ What Is Resident Evil Requiem?
✅ Officially Announced, Not Just a Leak
Forget leaks—this time it's real. Capcom unveiled Resident Evil Requiem during Summer Game Fest 2025, with a polished trailer and gameplay reveal that instantly lit up the internet.
Here’s what we officially know:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎮 Title | Resident Evil Requiem |
| 🗓️ Release Date | February 27, 2026 |
| 🧑💼 Protagonist | Grace Ashcroft, FBI tech analyst |
| 🌆 Setting | Wrenwood Hotel & Raccoon City ruins |
| 👁️ Perspective | Switchable first-person & third-person |
| 🧪 Engine | RE Engine (with advanced lighting, ray-tracing) |
👩💼 Meet Grace Ashcroft: The New Face of Fear
You won’t be playing as Ethan Winters, Claire Redfield, or Jill Valentine this time. Instead, the spotlight is on Grace Ashcroft, a forensic tech analyst working for the FBI. But there’s a twist—Grace is the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a journalist from Resident Evil Outbreak who reportedly died 8 years before the events of the game.
Grace is sent to investigate the Wrenwood Hotel, a creepy, decaying building in a remote town, where mysterious disappearances echo Umbrella’s old bioterror playbook.
As the story unfolds, Grace finds herself entangled in an even deeper mystery tied to Raccoon City’s buried past. Yep, the ruins of Raccoon City are back, and it looks like the nightmare isn’t over.
🧩 The Gameplay: Classic Horror, Modern Twist
Resident Evil Requiem brings something fans have been asking for: the ability to switch between first-person and third-person views at any time. Whether you prefer the over-the-shoulder tension of RE2 Remake or the immersive dread of RE7, you get both.
Gameplay also focuses less on combat and more on:
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Exploration and investigation
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Environmental puzzle-solving
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Psychological and atmospheric horror
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Escaping rather than fighting in some sequences
The vibe is more RE1 meets Silent Hill than RE6 action movie. And it works.
💀 Back to Raccoon City… Again
It’s nostalgic, it’s chilling, and it’s loaded with lore. So naturally, fans are asking…
🕵️♂️ So… Where Is Leon?
Now to the big elephant in the creepy room. With Raccoon City returning, Grace being linked to the Outbreak timeline, and the overall feel being rich in franchise history—why is Leon missing from all of this?
Here’s what we know:
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Leon has not been confirmed in any official press release or trailer.
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Capcom hasn’t dropped even a tiny hint about his involvement.
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No voice actor teasers, no shadowy cameos, nothing.
On paper, it looks like Resident Evil Requiem is a clean slate. New story, new protagonist, new vibe.
But fans aren’t convinced. And they have their reasons.
🤯 Fan Theories: Is Leon Still Out There?
🎭 1. Surprise Mid-Game Appearance
Capcom has a history of surprise character reveals. Chris Redfield wasn’t shown until the end of RE7. Ada Wong showed up unannounced in RE4 Remake. So it’s possible Leon could appear midway or during a twist.
📦 2. DLC Storyline
We’ve seen Capcom invest in DLC for characters like Rose (Shadows of Rose) and Ada (Separate Ways). If Leon doesn’t show up in the base game, he might get a DLC side-story that ties into Grace’s journey or uncovers his own mission in parallel.
⏭️ 3. Saved for Resident Evil 10
Let’s be honest—Leon has been through a lot. Maybe Capcom is intentionally giving him a breather before a massive return in RE10, potentially teaming up with other icons like Jill or Claire.
🧠 Death Island and Leon’s Future
The last time we saw Leon canonically was in the animated movie Resident Evil: Death Island. There, he was:
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Older
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More bitter
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Clearly traumatized and emotionally distant
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Relying on alcohol and struggling with fatigue
Some fans argue this was Capcom’s way of closing Leon’s arc, or at least putting him on pause.
But the story in Requiem—with ties to Raccoon City, bio-weapons, and government cover-ups—sounds like exactly the kind of mess Leon usually gets pulled into.
💬 What the Fandom Thinks
Reddit threads and YouTube comments are filled with opinions like:
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“Grace looks cool, but I still want to see Leon again.”
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“I’ll take a DLC if it means Leon gets his own storyline.”
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“Capcom better not retire him without closure.”
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“What if Grace is looking into Leon’s disappearance?”
There’s no clear consensus, but one thing is obvious—Leon’s absence feels intentional, not accidental.
🧱 Is There Hope for a Cameo?
Maybe. Capcom is known for playing things close to the chest. Until release day, anything can happen.
Some leakers also mention that:
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The Wrenwood investigation involves government corruption
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Grace’s mission may intersect with former operatives (like Leon)
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Unused voice lines from RE4 Remake could hint at future returns
In short: Leon might still be in the shadows—we just can’t see him yet.
🔚 Final Thoughts: No Leon, No Problem?
Okay, so Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be a strong title even without Leon. Grace is compelling, the horror is real, and the gameplay looks tight.
But Leon is more than just a fan-favorite—he’s a symbol of the series' evolution. And his story doesn’t feel finished.
If Capcom really is putting him on the shelf, fans will want closure—or at least one final mission.
🗣️ What Do You Think?
Would you be okay with Leon sitting this one out? Or do you think Capcom is hiding something big for us?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s build the theory board 🧵
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