Resident Evil Requiem: Leon S. Kennedy Details We Learned From The Latest Trailer

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I’ll admit, when the developers said Resident Evil Requiem would have a new reveal at The Game Awards, I was really hoping to see Leon Kennedy. You know, the classic version – the rookie cop, presidential protector, and with that amazing hair! And I actually believed the insider Dusk Golem, even when others didn’t! But seriously, it felt like the perfect moment. Even though we’ll get a more detailed look at the game in early 2026, if Leon plays such a big role, The Game Awards was the ideal place to show him off.

The recent PlayStation Store leak turned out to be true: Leon S. Kennedy will be appearing in Resident Evil Requiem. And that’s not all! The developers also revealed his updated appearance. He looks tougher, with longer hair and a bit of stubble. His new outfit is particularly striking – a sleek black coat with a high fur collar and gloves, giving him a cool, almost spy-like look.

He immediately makes a strong impression by rescuing Grace from a large, relentless enemy that’s been pursuing her – and he questions why an FBI agent is involved. This confirms the developers’ claim that the creature won’t be a central focus of the game, and suggests Leon and Grace will meet and quickly form a connection early on. We don’t know exactly when this will happen – it could be within the first or third hour of gameplay.

Leon is pursuing his own investigation into Doctor Victor Gideon, who bought a strange building after the fall of Umbrella Corp to conduct research. Meanwhile, Grace is also looking into a fifth body and its connection to the Wrenwood Hotel, mirroring Leon’s efforts.

It’s still unclear what Gideon’s connection to Umbrella is, but we know he needs Grace to release something called Elpis. He believes she’s special, and when she tries to escape, he angrily chases after her. It’s puzzling why Grace was so scared, particularly since she had a weapon. Strangely, when Leon arrives at the location, a nurse tells him that Dr. Gideon was anticipating his arrival.

Leon’s arsenal includes a powerful revolver effective against the game’s creatures. He also uses a tomahawk, which he even pulls from a defeated enemy – hinting players might be able to reuse it. It could also be thrown, making it a better option than a regular knife. And despite getting older, Leon remains skilled in close-quarters combat, including kicks and takedowns.

We got a clearer view of the infected, who move like zombies, but their bodies aren’t as decayed. This could be due to the effects of Elpis. A photo shows Gideon with other scientists, and it looks like he’s infected them too. One of them is wielding a chainsaw, similar to the notorious Dr. Salvador, but is swinging it around much more erratically.

Turns out, Leon can now wield a chainsaw and use it to defeat enemies – a surprising twist! Hopefully, this becomes a permanent weapon for him. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to see Leon with a chainsaw, but I’m definitely on board with it now.

Fans have been curious about how Leon will travel in the game. Back in September, a user named Dusk Golem speculated Leon’s areas would be larger than Grace’s, suggesting he’d need a vehicle. The latest trailer confirmed this, revealing a partnership with Porsche and showing Leon driving a Cayenne Turbo GT. Dusk Golem then jokingly wondered what kind of vehicle he would drive in those expansive levels.

Some might say it’s just a publicity stunt, but it seems unlikely a developer would partner with a prestigious brand like Porsche for just a brief appearance in their game.

A key aspect of the story is how it connects Leon and Grace. Grace will deliver a distinct, terrifying survival horror experience, while Leon will focus on intense action. It’s unclear how much gameplay Leon will actually have – even Chris Redfield was heavily featured in Resident Evil Village marketing despite a relatively short role. Still, given Leon’s popularity, the promise of their stories being linked, and a reliable source confirming he’s a significant playable character, fans are hoping for a substantial campaign for him.

To make things even more puzzling, Leon is receiving guidance from an unknown voice warning him against reckless actions. While some believe it’s Ingrid Hunnigan, his former communications officer, the voice sounds distinctly different – younger, and reminiscent of Sherry Birkin. Comparing the voice to Sherry’s in Resident Evil 6 suggests a possible connection, despite a different voice actress. Considering Sherry’s history with Leon, her involvement in the Raccoon City incident, and her current role as a federal agent, her return wouldn’t be unexpected.

The developer also shared details about the Deluxe Edition cosmetics for Requiem. Players will get two new skins for Leon’s revolver and three outfits for Leon himself. One outfit lets you remove his coat, showing off his weapons like knives and grenades. You can also choose to wear his jacket or a suit, which looks similar to his outfit in Infinite Darkness but with a tie. A new, striking outfit for Grace was also revealed, along with a screen filter that makes the game’s colors much more vibrant.

The trailer for Resident Evil Requiem, though only three minutes and 24 seconds long, delivered exactly what fans were hoping for – the return of Leon S. Kennedy, looking great! It also introduced new mysteries surrounding a character named Gideon. The trailer revealed that whatever ‘Elpis’ – the Greek word for ‘hope’ – is, it causes disturbing effects in the infected, including tooth loss and dark skin lesions. Even the zombies themselves look different, with a noticeable glow in their eyes.

The demo concluded perfectly, giving us a quick glimpse of Leon’s skills. It instantly felt familiar – the classic action horror we all enjoy – but with the exciting addition of being able to briefly use a chainsaw as Leon. It’s a fantastic concept!

There are still a lot of unanswered questions. For example, what was the deal with that GameStop listing for a Deluxe Edition? It suggested two new story expansions and an update to Mercenaries mode. Also, will we see Rosemary Winters again, the main character from the Shadow of Rose DLC? And could other familiar faces from the original Racoon City incident, like Claire Redfield or Ada Wong, make a return – maybe even as playable characters in Mercenaries?

We’re getting even more excited for Resident Evil Requiem, which is scheduled to release on February 27, 2026. It will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Only time will tell if it lives up to the hype!

The opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2025-12-15 20:12