With Resident Evil Requiem launching on February 27 for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, developer Capcom is revealing more about the game. This includes showcasing series mainstay Leon S. Kennedy, who has become hotter as he’s gotten older, and we can thank the company’s female staff for that.
In an interview with Automaton, director Koshi Nakanishi discussed the “ikeoji” phenomenon that emerged after Leon was revealed during The Game Awards on December 11. (“Ikeoji” roughly translates to “an attractive or cool older man,” typically in their late 30s to early 60s.) Nakanishi explained that it took quite a bit of time to perfect Leon’s older appearance, with Capcom’s female staff contributing a lot of fine details to make sure the zombie-killing badass was as hot as possible.
“We’ve spent quite a lot of time polishing Leon’s visuals,” Nakanishi said in a joint media interview. “Leon has many fans among Capcom employees, and women in particular were pretty strict when reviewing his design. They would point out and comment on even the finest details like the wrinkles on his neck. When I mentioned that story in the past, a female fan told me, ‘The women developers at Capcom did a really good job.’ Throughout the development process, Leon was thoroughly refined, and I think we managed to come through with a design that would make anyone’s heart throb.”
While there’s no firm birthdate for the gunslinging, roundhousing badass, Leon was at the latest born in 1977. That positions him at just about 50 years old, making him the perfect “hot uncle” for anyone, regardless of age or gender, to swoon over. Sure, he’s got a Backstreet Boys-looking haircut, but his roots look healthy, his skin looks clear, and he’s got gruff facial hair. What is there not to love about someone who takes care of themselves while protecting you? That’s real boyfriend material.
His sex appeal was one thing for Capcom and Nakanishi. His personality was another, and maybe the primary focus for the director. Nakanishi said that, because Leon is a grizzled veteran at this point, it was important for the team to hone in on how hardened he has become due to his years of facing off against freakishly ugly monsters. Leon being scared or startled just wouldn’t make sense, so while he looks tough, he had to act tough as well.
“Every staff member had their own interpretation of Leon’s 30-year-long history, so they would tell me things like, ‘Leon would definitely not act like that in this kind of situation,'” Nakanishi explained. “So, there were more opinions about what he’s like on the inside compared to his looks, and after many discussions, we were able to settle on something that clicked for us. When players see this Leon in the game, hopefully they will be able to find their own interpretation of him as well.”
As Leon makes his steamy return, he’s also coming with an arsenal upgrade. Nakanishi told GameSpot on January 26 that he can finally use a chainsaw. It’s time for our favorite RE protagonist to rip and tear.