In the new Resident Evil Requiem, players will once again encounter a familiar face. Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil 2 has aged a bit over time, which is why the team had to take care of a new design for the beloved character. The developers were particularly strict in this regard.
What was important to the team regarding Leon’s appearance? In an interview with Automaton, the Director of Resident Evil Requiem, Koshi Nakanishi, and Producer Masato Kumazawa discuss how Leon’s new look came to be.
The team wanted to transform Leon into what is known as an “Ikeoji,” a cool and attractive older man, as Nakanishi explains: “Throughout the entire development process, Leon was meticulously refined, and I believe we succeeded in developing a design that makes everyone’s hearts race.”
And to ensure this reaction, the team reportedly worked very hard, according to the two leaders.
Here you can see the trailer for Resident Evil Requiem, which will be released in February 2026:
How did Leon become the “Ikeoji” he was meant to be? Leon has a lot of fans at Capcom, which is why his appearance was checked and reviewed multiple times. Especially the female developers were very strict in their criticism. According to Nakanishi, they pointed out the smallest details until everything was truly perfect, even commenting on the wrinkles on Leon’s neck.
When the Director told this story, a female fan informed him that the female developers at Capcom had really done a great job.
What else is particularly important about Leon’s portrayal besides his appearance? The two developers do not only talk about Leon’s visual attractiveness. His character has also matured over time.
“Leon is not just good-looking but also has a cool personality,” emphasizes Nakanishi in the interview with Automaton, “He is someone who selflessly sacrifices his life to save others, but he is not arrogant and has a passionate inner self.”
And to further highlight Leon’s age in the game, the Director adds: “I hope you are looking forward to the dry humor and subtle sarcasm that only an older man can provide.”
MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes has already had a 3-hour demo encounter with Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem. He reports here on MeinMMO about how he spent his time with Leon and Grace, and how scary he finds the game so far: Resident Evil Requiem has achieved something in 3 hours that I thought was impossible: I’ve started to fear zombies again
