While I'm not into men myself, I can certainly appreciate a handsome fellow in the times when I find one in my eyesight. Seeing Leon Kennedy in the trailers for and pre-release gameplay footage of the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem (AKA, Resident Evil 9) were some of those times.
Indeed, the Raccoon City police officer-turned-DSO agent has been widely regarded as something of a dreamboat throughout all of his appearances in the action-horror Resident Evil games, and many fans are swooning over his grizzled visage in Requiem, too. In particular, many Japanese fans have taken to calling him "ikeoji," or "hot uncle," ahead of the game's February 27 release across Xbox, PC, and PS5.
Notably, though, Leon's handsome appearance isn't the only thing about the character that Capcom took a lot of time to get right. Nakanishi went on to note that the developers also went back and forth on his personality, demeanor, and behavior as well as they zeroed in on how he would act and react to the horrific threats he faces in Requiem after 30 years of surviving various different horrors and monstrosities.
"Every staff member had their own interpretation of Leon’s 30-year-long history, so they would tell me things like, 'Leon would definitely not act like that in this kind of situation,'" he said.
"So, there were more opinions about what he’s like on the inside compared to his looks, and after many discussions, we were able to settle on something that clicked for us. When players see this Leon in the game, hopefully they will be able to find their own interpretation of him as well," Nakanishi added.
Speaking of players and their relationship with Leon, he'll be one of two playable characters in Resident Evil Requiem, the other being FBI agent Grace Ashcroft. Not much is known about the story, though we do know that it takes place in Raccoon City, with both characters investigating a mysterious new zombie infection that has apparent connections to Grace's deceased mother, Alyssa.
As a recent gameplay showcase highlighted, Leon's gameplay will be centered around heavy, intense action, while Grace's will feature slower pacing, tighter spaces, and more of a survival horror focus. My colleague Zac Bowden got a taste of both halves of the game in a recent preview, and called it a "true return to form for classic Resident Evil fans."
Resident Evil Requiem is out on February 27, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, with preorders available now.
What are your thoughts on Leon's design in Resident Evil Requiem? Do you find him attractive, or think he looks cool? Would you have preferred a different look for him? Hit me with your take in the comments.
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