Tonight's Gamescom Opening Night Live broadcast provided a new glimpse of Resident Evil: Requiem's protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, though it offered no appearance from beloved character Leon S. Kennedy.
As anticipated, today's showcase featured a more in-depth look at Capcom's eagerly awaited survival horror title—which is also playable on the show floor at Gamescom. The latest footage highlighted Grace Ashcroft in action once again, leaving fans speculating about Leon’s absence.
After receiving a mysterious phone call, Grace Ashcroft and her mother Alyssa attempt to flee their hotel after a power outage leaves them vulnerable to attack. We already know what follows: years later, Grace returns to the hotel as an FBI analyst to investigate the incident.
Capcom previously confirmed that Requiem will revisit the series' overarching narrative, which began three decades ago. This marks a shift from recent entries like Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, which introduced more standalone stories with fewer ties to earlier installments. Fans have already spotted references to Raccoon City and the shadowy Umbrella Corporation—and many are hoping for more, including a first look at Leon.
"We always considered making Leon the protagonist," Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi stated earlier, "but crafting horror around him poses challenges. He wouldn’t startle at something as simple as a falling bucket. Nobody wants to see Leon frightened by trivial scares. That makes him a tricky fit for pure horror."
Many supporters interpreted this as confirmation that Leon would still appear in the game, likely in segments emphasizing action-oriented gameplay. While Nakanishi indicated the character isn't suited for horror sequences, he stopped short of excluding Leon entirely.
There's still ample time until Resident Evil: Requiem arrives on February 27, 2026.
