Leon Kennedyis not the main character inResident Evil 9, and the game’s director has now explained the reason behind his absence… though many fans still believe he might appear.
Requiem Highlights Capcom Spotlight
There was little doubt thatResident Evil 9: Requiemwould be the highlight of the recentCapcom Spotlightevent, which also delivered new details aboutPragmata and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, alongside promising updates forMonster Hunter WildsandStreet Fighter 6.
Many fans were hoping to finally see Leon Kennedy, especially after the cryptic teaser trailer, which seemed to hint at the legendary character’s involvement in Grace Ashcroft’s survival horror adventure.
However, Capcom did not give even a second of screen time to the iconicResident Evil 4protagonist (andResident Evil 2co-lead), suggesting that while Leon may appear inRequiem, he won’t be the main character.
Why Isn’t Leon Kennedy the Protagonist?
DirectorKoshi Nakanishi, known for his work onResident Evil 7 and the Resident Evil Revelationstitles, explained why Leon isn’t taking center stage in this ninth installment.
Nakanishi admitted theyconsideredmaking Leon the lead, but ultimately felt that the veteran government agent no longer fit well within a pure horror experience, due to his extensive background in action-heavyResident Eviltitles.
Instead, the team decided to focus onGrace Ashcroft, an FBI agent and daughter ofAlyssa Ashcroft, a character who first appeared inResident Evil Outbreak.
Grace Ashcroft Takes the Lead
It’s now official:Grace Ashcroftwill be the main playable character inResident Evil 9: Requiem. She was already seen in action during the debut trailer revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025.
That said, this doesn’t necessarily mean Leon won’t appear. The game is set 30 years after the events of the originalResident Evil, which would make Leon over 50 years old—if he shows up, he’ll be visibly aged.
“We always thought about making Leon the protagonist, but making a horror game around him is difficult,”
said Nakanishi (via Genki on Twitter/X).
Making Leon the lead would naturally tilt the game toward action, as seen inResident Evil 4and its remake. Instead, he’ll likely play a supporting but important role.
Moreover, Nakanishi noted that he didn’t want to portray a fearful or vulnerable version of Leon, which would be necessary in a survival horror setting, so giving that role to a different character made more sense.
Resident Evil 9 Carries On the Horror Legacy
Let’s not forget thatEthan Winterswas the protagonist in bothResident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, two games that marked a return to true survival horror.Resident Evil 9will now pass the torch toGrace Ashcroft,who has already been seen suffering through horror scenarios in both first- and third-person perspectives.
Resident Evil 9: Requiemis currently in development at Capcom and will launch onFebruary 27, 2026, forPS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Capcom has also confirmed that the game—along withPragmata and Onimusha: Way of the Sword—will be playable at the upcomingGamescom.
