Resident Evil Requiem is Still Hiding One Major Ace Up its Sleeve

A lot of hype is currently circulating around Resident Evil Requiem, with fans finally getting their first glimpses at the next major steps for the longstanding franchise. With over four years having passed since the launch of the well-received Village, Capcom is already moving forwards with a new mainline installment to the series, with the recent Summer Game Fest showcasing the game’s reveal trailer alongside a spate of other exciting announcements across the industry.

While Resident Evil Requiem‘s allotted time at Summer Game Fest was fairly brief, its trailer did well to give fans a solid overview of the narrative, locations, and involved characters of the game, capping things off with a solid release date: February 27, 2026. Rumors, theories, and leaks have dominated the discourse around the next Resident Evil title for some time now, with the protagonists of the game being a point of particular interest, and the reveal trailer for Requiem lined up with many popular theories by confirming Grace Ashcroft as a new major character. Leon Kennedy has also been heavily theorized to appear as a protagonist in the game, and while the trailer does not outright confirm this, it seems extremely likely that this will be the center of Requiem‘s next major reveals.

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Leon Kennedy’s Involvement in Resident Evil Requiem Makes the Next Steps for the Game Quite Clear

The recent reveal trailer for Resident Evil Requiem placed a large focus on Grace Ashcroft as a major protagonist for the title, with the character being the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, who first appeared in 2003’s Resident Evil Outbreak as a Raccoon City survivor who aimed to expose the Umbrella Corporation in her role as an investigative journalist. At least partly, Resident Evil Requiem will see Grace as an FBI agent investigating a series of mysterious deaths, eventually leading the character to the ruins of Raccoon City.

The trailer for Requiem confirms that Alyssa Ashcroft was murdered at a place called the Wrenwood Hotel, with this being another location that will seemingly appear in the title as part of Grace’s investigation.

Of course, Raccoon City is one of the most famous locations from the wider Resident Evil franchise, being the primary setting of many past entries. Following the events of 1999’s Resident Evil 3 and the bombing of the location, Raccoon City lies desolate and barren, though many of its most recognizable structures still remain somewhat intact. It appears that players will once again revisit Raccoon City throughout the events of Requiem, although it seems that there is much more to the title than what currently meets the eye.

Prominent Resident Evil leakers, such as Dusk Golem, have long stated that Requiem will feature at least two distinct playable characters, with Leon Kennedy holding a major protagonist presence in the game. The initial reveal of Grace Ashcroft seems to somewhat corroborate these theories, with it seeming more likely that Capcom would wait a bit longer to fully reveal Leon’s involvement closer to the game’s release.

A Future Announcement of Leon in Resident Evil Requiem Would Create a Perfect Storm For the Title

Of course, Leon Kennedy is one of Resident Evil‘s fan-favorite faces, with the character being heavily linked to Raccoon City throughout his franchise appearances, making his involvement in Requiem all the more likely. As a much older man than what fans have seen before, the presence of Leon in Resident Evil Requiem would be a fascinating prospect, with some fans even theorizing that a barely-visible figure seen in the game’s reveal trailer could be Leon himself.

The premise and confirmed locations of Resident Evil Requiem seem to all be pointing towards Leon’s presence in the title, with many fans already treating the character’s appearance as a sure-thing. With the most dominating theories and supposed leaks surrounding the game all corroborating Leon Kennedy as a protagonist in the upcoming game, it seems as if Capcom has smartly kept its cards close to its chest, with such an exciting reveal being the perfect way to sweeten the deal for Requiem as its release draws near.