Resident Evil followers are worriedly discussing new screenshots of fan-favorite character Leon S. Kennedy, which look to characteristic an ominous-looking mark on his neck.
The previous week has been a rollercoaster for Leon followers, with leaked art work confirming the character’s long-rumored presence in Requiem, adopted by his official unveiling in a trailer at The Sport Awards final Thursday.
However now there’s concern for Leon’s future — as followers analyse screenshots from Capcom’s newest trailer that seemingly present a darkish, bloodied wound on the hero’s neck, and following a remark from Resident Evil: Requiem producer Akifumi Nakanishi who said that Leon is hiding “a massive secret.”
IGN has revisited final week’s official Resident Evil Requiem trailer that aired throughout The Sport Awards, and enhanced the screenshots you’ll be able to see beneath.
Could this be a zombie chew, or doubtlessly one other an infection? The query has prompted livid debate amongst followers on reddit and social media, whereas others have steered this might be an unlikely plot level for Capcom to discover once more, after Leon was injected with Las Plagas throughout Resident Evil 4. Different followers, nonetheless, have mentioned this mark could possibly be a signal of Leon’s older Las Plagas an infection slowly recurring — as a neat technique to tie Leon’s story in Requiem again to the franchise’s hottest entry.
Jokingly, some followers have steered the mark is a nod to Capcom’s non-canon Sport Boy Colour title Resident Evil: Gaiden, in which Leon is revealed to secretly be a monster when inexperienced blood oozes from a wound on his neck. Alternatively, one different fan claimed, it is a love chew from Ada.
The subject of whether or not Leon will die has lengthy been debated by followers anticipating his look in Requiem, which Capcom has steered will conclude story threads from the franchise thus far. Will the passing of Leon — for a lot of, the sequence’ hottest character — be used to mark the tip of Resident Evil’s present period of storytelling, because it marks its thirtieth anniversary?
Hypothesis has solely intensified after remarks from Requiem producer Akifumi Nakanishi, who was requested by Denfaminicogamer in regards to the phrase “Elpis,” which seems in the sport’s newest trailer.
“Though I can not reveal any particulars but, Leon has a massive secret, and Elpis is concerned in that as nicely,” Nakinishi mentioned, “and it has an vital which means. I hope that as you play, it is possible for you to to unravel Elpis’ secret.
“In historic Greek mythology, Elpis is a image left behind in Pandora’s Field, from which varied disasters are mentioned to have flowed,” he continued. “It’s typically interpreted as ‘hope,’ however in truth, some individuals additionally see it as ‘catastrophe.’ This is a crucial component in the story of Requiem.”
Will Leon’s destiny in the end be one among hope or catastrophe? Resident Evil: Requiem launches on February 27, 2026.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You possibly can attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social