Director Koshi Nakanishi has confirmed that Leon S. Kennedy was initially considered as the main character in Resident Evil Requiem, but ultimately deemed a “bad match” for the game’s core concept of creating an experience with “addictive fear.” This is due to Leon’s fearless and capable characterization, which wouldn’t fit well with the horror gameplay.
Nakanishi stated that making a horror game based on Leon would be difficult, as he wouldn’t react to jump scares or fearful situations. Instead, the director opted for Grace Ashcroft as the lead character, allowing for a more terrifying experience.
Although it seems unlikely that Leon will play a significant role in the game, fans may still see him in non-playable capacity. Resident Evil Requiem is set to launch on February 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Source: https://www.gameinformer.com/2025/06/27/leon-s-kennedy-was-considered-a-bad-match-for-resident-evil-requiem