Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem director Akifumi Nakanishi spoke about Leon Kennedy’s role and gameplay on December 12, 2025, confirming the game will alternate between two very different tones. Speaking at a media event reported by Automaton, Nakanishi said Leon and Grace’s playable sections are “almost equally split.” He described Grace’s segments as horror-focused and modelled on Resident Evil 2, while Leon’s chapters lean into melee, martial arts, and a Resident Evil 4-style action approach.
Nakanishi called Grace “the biggest scaredy-cat in Resident Evil history,” and added that Leon isn’t well suited to quiet, tension-heavy horror. “Since quiet sections where you cower before monsters don’t fit him, his chapters focus on intense, adrenaline-pumping action,” he said, noting the team wanted to mix the two types of tension to create a different rhythm across the game.
The director said the structure is similar to Resident Evil Revelations, with players switching between the characters as the plot advances and encountering scenes where the two meet. He also explained the design choices for Leon, describing efforts to show how the character might look and act in 2026 and calling him an “ikeoji,” or cool older guy, with new actions layered on top of a RE4 foundation.
Capcom has said Resident Evil Requiem will release on February 27, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The reveal at The Game Awards earlier this month included Leon in playable form; see the Game Awards trailer for the announcement and footage.
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Resident Evil Requiem
Developed by Capcom
Resident Evil Requiem is the highly anticipated ninth title in the mainline Resident Evil series. Prepare to escape death in a heart-stopping experience that will chill you to your core.
- Genre: Shooter, Puzzle, Adventure
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Single player
- Release: 2026-02-27
- Publisher: Capcom
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Age Rating:
ACB R 18+ / ESRB M / PEGI 18
