Some gamers are convinced that Capcom is set to kill off fan-favorite character Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem. The theory posits the idea that not only will Leon perish in Resident Evil Requiem, but that Capcom is hiding his impending doom in plain sight. However, fans are mixed about whether the developer would actually follow through on such a bold move.
Leon Kennedy was first featured in Resident Evil 2, and very quickly became a big favorite with fans. Despite this, he hasn’t featured in every Resident Evil game. From the mainline titles, he has only been playable in Resident Evil 2, 4, and 6, the last of which was released back in 2012. Remakes aside, it has been a long time since players got their fix of new Leon content. Leaks that Leon would appear in Resident Evil Requiem appeared prominently way before Capcom confirmed his appearance in the game at The Game Awards, although the studio held firm for a while on the idea that Grace Ashcroft was the sole protagonist. While it’s of course exciting that the popular character is finally making a significant return, it’s a shame that the surprise had been long ruined for many fans of the game. Now that Capcom has shown him off, some believe he is not set for a happy return.
Some Resident Evil Fans Are Convinced Leon’s Death Has Already Been Spoiled in Requiem
Over on Reddit, a thread by user Due_Bluebird4397 highlighted that Leon’s Resident Evil Requiem reveal may have shown off the fact that he’s going to die in the game. His character model has what appears to be a huge infection on his neck, and Capcom has made very little attempt to hide it. The Redditor also pointed out that Leon’s hands are gloved in the trailer, potentially hiding more infection, but said that this “may be a coincidence.” One user agreed with the theory, pointing out that because Leon had been infected with both T-Virus and Las Plagas in previous games and survived, the only way to actually shock players at this point would be to kill him for real.
However, the general sentiment about whether Capcom would actually follow through with killing Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem was mixed. He’s a legacy character that it seems Capcom is going to continue returning to for future stories, and the developer would be limiting itself to prequels or spin-offs going forward if it wanted to feature Leon post-death. Others raised the point that his previous infections imply that his trailer appearance means very little and could be an interesting Resident Evil 4 callback if it’s a flare-up of his Las Plagas infection. The fact that Capcom hasn’t hidden Leon’s neck wound is important, too – if it were a case of Capcom preparing to kill off Leon, it’s very unlikely that it would show off the direct cause in his initial reveal. Every second of these trailers is intensely scrutinized by fans, and Capcom is aware of this.
Way before he was officially confirmed as a character in the game, it was claimed by leakers that Resident Evil Requiem would serve as Leon’s send-off game. Of course, they were correct about Leon’s appearance in the first place, and this could lend some credence to the idea that he’s going to die in the game. With Resident Evil Requiem set to launch on February 27, 2026, the only way to know for sure is to wait and see if Capcom is bold enough to kill off one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. It’s difficult to imagine, but certainly not impossible.
- Released
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February 27, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
