Capcom has decided to take the Resident Evil franchise in a new direction, leaving aside one of its most iconic characters. Series veteran Leon S. Kennedy will not star in the highly anticipated Resident Evil Requiem, and the official reason has finally been revealed. According to the company, the decision is directly related to the game's narrative and the emotional depth needed to sustain the horror.
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Grace Ashcroft, an easily frightened FBI analyst, was chosen as the protagonist to bring the player's experience closer to feelings of vulnerability and fear. Leon, according to Capcom, is too experienced to evoke empathy in this type of context, which would make him, in the words of director Koshi Nakanishi, "a poor choice for horror."
Grace represents a new type of protagonist in Resident Evil Requiem
The casting of Grace Ashcroft marks a clear shift in tone for the franchise. Introverted and emotionally susceptible, the new protagonist isn't a ready-made fighter from the start. She feels fear, hesitates in the face of the unknown, and grows throughout her journey. At the same time, she's a seasoned federal agent, with technical training and the ability to react rationally in times of crisis.
This balance between emotional fragility and professional competence is key to the psychological horror Capcom aims to deliver in Requiem. The goal, according to Nakanishi, is to make the player recognize themselves in the character's fear and not just observe it from the outside, as would happen with a more confident and invulnerable hero.
Capcom hasn't forgotten about Leon
During Capcom Spotlight 2025, director Koshi Nakanishi directly addressed speculation about Leon's absence. According to him, despite internal attempts to fit the character into the story, the team concluded that his presence wouldn't fit with the genre of horror they were aiming for.
"We thought several times about making Leon the protagonist, but it's difficult to build a horror game around him. He wouldn't even be scared by a falling bucket ," the director stated. This quote sums up the problem: Leon is an established hero, and precisely because of this, he doesn't convey the vulnerability essential for a narrative of growing fear.
Trailer suggests connection to the past and rekindles theories
Even with Leon's absence as the protagonist, the first trailer for Requiem contains elements that hint at his possible appearance. Eagle-eyed fans noticed the presence of the character's van amid the ruins of the Raccoon City Police Department, fueling theories about a supporting role or even a playable role in certain scenes.
Capcom has neither confirmed nor denied this possibility so far. However, the fact that the director himself commented on Leon during an official presentation already indicates that the discussion is part of the company's communication strategy.
A new direction for the horror franchise
In recent years, Resident Evil has oscillated between intense action and atmospheric horror. With Requiem, Capcom signals a more solid return to psychological horror, prioritizing tension-building, the unknown, and the characters' emotional growth.
Grace's choice reflects this new direction. The proposal is simple yet ambitious: to make the player feel fear up close, with a protagonist who is frightened, who trembles, but who must act as any of us would in an extreme survival scenario.
Resident Evil Requiem will be released on February 27, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
