Resident Evil Requiem’s producer has tried to deal with the persistent hypothesis that fan-favorite character Leon S. Kennedy will seem within the recreation, by branding a selected picture as “faux information.”
Capcom continues to advertise the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem as a brand new entry within the sequence starring recent protagonist Grace Ashcroft, although has by no means explicitly said that she is the only playable character.
Certainly, when IGN sat down with Capcom at Gamescom 2025 in August, we have been informed that its employees members wouldn’t focus on any web rumors of sure different characters showing. However now, in an interview with Stevivor, producer Masato Kumazawa has not less than acknowleged the continuing hypothesis — and confirmed one explicit picture is a fan creation.
Resident Evil followers have lately been debating the veracity of an picture shared extensively on social media that options an older Leon with an eyepatch. Many had advised the image was doubtless AI-generated, and now, addressing this picture particularly, Kumazawa has described it as “faux information.”
“Other than any official data that Capcom has launched, the remaining is extra [fan] detective work,” Kumazawa stated. “So I’d counsel to please not take all the things at face worth. Contemplating that now could be the time when AI [can be used to make] movies and pictures, we do not know what’s proper or what’s flawed.
“Gamers are free to consider what they want to consider,” he continued, “what I would like to inform is that, please, until it is formally launched from Capcom, we won’t provide you with any affirmation.”
this once more, I believe this leaked picture of RE9 Leon is faux. The pupil in his eye is lacking. The eyepatch is blurred and out of place. The hair strands is painted on. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/KT43m1NOU2
— Paintixir (VGen) (@Paintixir) September 20, 2025
One other current supply of dialogue amongst Resident Evil followers is the labelling of DLC costumes for Grace Ashcroft discovered throughout the recreation’s deluxe version. This pricier bundle advertises the very fact it comprises 5 extra costumes whole, although solely a pair for Grace have to this point been showcased. In addition to that, every in-game merchandise is labelled with the “Grace’s Costume:” prefix, one thing followers have excitedly advised signifies that extra costumes for different characters (Leon) are being held again.
“There was a photograph currently of Leon with an eyepatch, and simply mainly saying there is a DLC or a brand new costume for Leon,” Kumazawa said, “however simply to ensure, these are all faux information.”
As soon as once more, nevertheless, Capcom seems to have stopped brief of saying Leon is not within the recreation — and at this level, if he wasn’t, you’d assume its builders would need to set the file straight in an effort to begin managing expectations.
Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Swap 2 and Xbox Collection X/S — whether or not it contains Leon or not.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You’ll be able to attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social