The Resident Evil Requiem from The Recreation Awards lastly confirmed that Leon S. Kennedy will return as the sport’s second playable protagonist. Though he has aged a bit since we final noticed him, Japanese followers have been taking to social media to reward Leon’s suave, older look.
Slated for a multiplatform launch on February 27, 2026, Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth mainline title in Capcom’s survival horror sequence. It can introduce new essential character Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst who’s investigating a sequence of mysterious deaths that appear to be linked to Victor Gideon, a former Umbrella Corp. researcher. Whereas it appears that evidently Grace’s components of the sport will play extra like typical survival horror, the brand new trailer, beneath, gave followers a peek at Leon’s extra action-orientated zombie-battling gameplay, full with chainsaw. “Grace’s gameplay fashion is predicated on Resident Evil 2, whereas Leon’s is predicated on Resident Evil 4,” director Akifumi Nakanishi revealed in a current interview with Denfaminicogamer.
Though Leon has at all times had his followers, the D.S.O agent’s middle-aged incarnation is getting a lot reward from Japanese talking customers on X. He’s already being affectionately known as ikeoji (actually, “scorching uncle” — a cool and enticing older man). “Leon’s steadily turning into a scorching uncle” one user mused. Sharing some screenshots, one other person chimed in with “Leon’s getting old in a cool means.” One other person summed up: “Resident Evil 9’s Leon is just too scorching. He’s 49 on this (as of 2026)? He’s so suave.”
Fans are additionally getting impressed to attract Leon’s new look. “Leon in Resi 9’s new trailer is just too rattling advantageous,” stated one person, posting the next fan artwork. “He’s getting old in such a fantastic means, whereas retaining his coolness. I’m actually trying ahead to assembly this Leon,” enthused another user. “He’s turning into a scorching older man, like Keanu Reeves!” stated one commenter.
RE9新トレーラーのレオンが良すぎて。 pic.twitter.com/PIkrWuylo1
— □ (@dbox_2525) December 12, 2025
Different eagle-eyed trailer viewers have noticed that Leon appears to have some sort of rash on his neck, prompting considerations that he has been contaminated. Whereas many appear to be having fun with middle-aged Leon’s seems, others are anxious as as to if he ought to nonetheless be preventing off mutants at his age, with one particular person saying: “I like Leon, however they need to let him relaxation.” Within the beforehand talked about Denfaminicogamer interview, Resident Evil Requiem’s director revealed that Leon has a “main secret” that may have vital implications (however he’s maintaining quiet on what precisely that’s).
コメントで教えてもらったけど
レオン..感染してるのかい？…#バイオハザードレクイエム pic.twitter.com/6GY05WqofY— それいけジェットでやってみよう！ (@neko_sougo) December 12, 2025
Legendary Japanese recreation developer Hideki Kamiya additionally weighed in on Leon’s new look and the way a few of Capcom’s beloved characters are getting lengthy within the tooth. “Uncle Leon, on the very least, I would love for you to dwell fortunately in your previous age,” Kamiya commented, sharing a timelapse of Leon’s getting old face. In response, one other person wrote that, though they have been advantageous with recreation characters getting older, they hoped that Resident Evil and Satan Might Cry characters might obtain the completely happy ending they deserve. Replying to this, Kamiya mused: “Even when Dante grew to become completely happy, received’t he at all times be poor?”
レオンおじさん…せめて老後は幸せに暮らして欲しい… https://t.co/EzsvnVHp54
— 神谷英樹🍀 Hideki Kamiya🍀 (@HidekiKamiya_X) December 12, 2025
Resident Evil Requiem’s devs have already revealed that switching between taking part in as Grace and Leon can be like “leaping into a chilly bathtub after a scorching sauna,” such is the distinction between the tense survival horror sneaking and Leon’s no-holds-barred motion. In line with director Akifumi Nakanishi, there can be an virtually equal break up between newcomer Grace and fan favourite Leon. “Though he’s a character who carries a lot on his shoulders, we took a lot of care in refining him into an ‘ikeoji’,” Nakanishi concluded. “The reactions to the trailer on that entrance have made us completely happy (laughs).”
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance author who beforehand served as editor, contributor and translator for the sport information website Automaton West. She has additionally written about Japanese tradition and flicks for varied publications.