If Leon in Resident Evil Requiem has you swooning, you have female Capcom devs to thank — they thoroughly refined “a design that would make anyone’s heart throb”

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I’m not personally attracted to men, but I can definitely recognize when someone is good-looking. I felt that way when I saw Leon Kennedy in the trailers and gameplay videos for the new Resident Evil game (Resident Evil 9).

Leon S. Kennedy, the popular character from the Resident Evil series who went from police officer to special agent, has long been considered very attractive by fans. With the upcoming release of Requiem on February 27th for Xbox, PC, and PS5, many are again praising his mature look. In Japan, fans have affectionately nicknamed him “ikeoji,” which roughly translates to “hot uncle.”

Leon’s look in Resident Evil Requiem – with his stylish coat, slightly messy blonde hair, and striking eyes – is undeniably appealing. But what many don’t realize is that Capcom dedicated a significant amount of effort to crafting his appearance, and a large part of that work was done by the women on the development team, who carefully refined every detail.

I’ve noticed the team really focused on making Leon look just right. Apparently, he’s a popular character even *within* Capcom, and the women on the team were particularly detail-oriented during the design process. They’d point out even the smallest things, like the lines on his neck! I remember sharing that story once, and a fan actually told me, ‘The female developers at Capcom did a really good job with him.’

He explained that Leon underwent a lot of polishing during development, and they ended up with a design that people really find attractive. I’d agree – it’s hard to find any discussion about Resident Evil Requiem online where someone isn’t commenting on how good-looking or cool Leon is.

It’s worth pointing out that the developers at Capcom didn’t just focus on Leon’s looks. They spent a lot of time perfecting his personality and how he’d behave, especially considering his 30 years of experience fighting monsters. They really wanted to nail how he would react to the terrifying threats in Requiem, given everything he’s survived.

Everyone on staff remembered Leon’s 30 years with the company differently, and they’d often tell me what he *wouldn’t* do, like, ‘He definitely wouldn’t act like that,’ he explained.

Nakanishi explained that they spent a lot of time discussing Leon’s personality, focusing more on who he is as a character rather than just how he looks. They eventually landed on a portrayal that felt right for the team, and they hope players will also connect with and interpret Leon in their own way.

In Resident Evil Requiem, players will be able to control either Leon or FBI agent Grace Ashcroft. The game is set in Raccoon City and follows both characters as they investigate a strange new zombie outbreak. The story also involves a personal connection for Grace, as the infection seems linked to the death of her mother, Alyssa.

The recent gameplay reveal showed that Leon’s sections of the game will be fast-paced and action-packed, while Grace’s will be slower, more claustrophobic, and emphasize the horror and survival aspects. My colleague, Zac Bowden, previewed both styles of gameplay and described the game as a welcome return to the roots of classic Resident Evil.

Resident Evil Requiem will be released on February 27, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. You can pre-order the game now.

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2026-01-29 02:39