For months, fans of the Resident Evil series wondered whether veteran hero Leon S. Kennedy would return in the upcoming title, and now it seems a long-running rumor is suddenly real. A premature update on the PS Store revealed new cover art for Resident Evil Requiem showing not only the game’s announced lead, Grace Ashcroft, but Leon as well.
The leak came to light when several players who pre-ordered the standard digital version noticed the box art had changed. Leon’s older, rugged silhouette stands behind Grace, framed by the game’s dystopian lighting. The image sparked immediate buzz because the hairstyle, the stance, and even the jacket style are unmistakably Leon.
Until now, Capcom publicly insisted that Grace was the sole protagonist for Requiem. Developers previously brushed off speculation about Leon’s return, suggesting his familiar and confident tone might not fit the darker direction of this entry. The accidental leak now casts doubt on those earlier statements.
What makes this more than a cameo tease is the prominence of Leon in the new art. He is not tucked away or treated as a minor character. He appears alongside Grace in a way that implies narrative weight and a level of importance that goes beyond a one-scene appearance. That single decision has set off speculation about the entire structure of the game, including theories about alternating missions or intersecting character arcs.
Fans are now dissecting every pixel of the leaked image to figure out Leon’s true role. Some believe he shares the spotlight with Grace as a full co-lead. Others think he may appear later in the story or anchor missions tied to Raccoon City’s past. With the game set decades after those events, an older Leon fits naturally into the world Capcom is building rather than feeling like simple nostalgia bait.
Capcom has not responded to the leak. Fans expect Capcom to acknowledge it during The Game Awards later this week. Until then, the slip-up is the strongest sign yet that Leon’s story in the Resident Evil universe is far from over.
Do you think the leak was accidental or on purpose?
