Ever since Resident Evil Requiem was announced, and it was confirmed that the game would take us back to Raccoon City, Leon fans have been hoping for an announcement that would finally confirm that the former rookie cop would be making an appearance in the game. Thanks to two leaks, we have some good news for you!
Resident Evil Requiem has sparked countless fan theories and discussions ever since its announcement. The return to Raccoon City fueled speculation about a possible comeback of former protagonist Leon S. Kennedy. However, an accidental leak from GameStop points toward a different playable character. And now, the PlayStation Store has also accidentally leaked the game's cover.
A Completely New Twist
GameStop has stirred up the rumor mill even more with this recent leak. Up until now, theories suggested that the leaked character could be the second playable protagonist.
On the product page for GameStop’s Deluxe Edition, three exclusive outfits as well as a visor customization were listed as features. These outfits seem to be intended for none other than Rosemary "Rose" Winters. Rose played a major role in Resident Evil Village as Ethan’s daughter and even received her own story expansion: Shadow of Rose.
While cosmetic outfits for side characters have existed before, the sheer amount of cosmetic items included in this edition strongly suggests that Rose could play an important role.
The interesting thing about Rose Winters is that she would be six to seven years old at the time of Requiem’s events, which suggests the story might involve time jumps.
Whether this is a clever marketing strategy or GameStop truly revealed explicit information by accident, we will probably not find out before the game releases in March 2026. There are also multiple leaks hinting at an appearance by Leon S. Kennedy.
Based on the latest information, Rose seems to play a supporting role in the new entry. It’s possible she could help drive the story forward – similar to Ada Wong’s role in the Resident Evil 4 Remake.
Capcom is opening brand-new possibilities here. We wouldn’t be limited to existing protagonists if Rose becomes a new lead for future installments. Both she and Grace are daughters of already established characters, making their involvement feel natural within the universe.
The Return Of Leon S. Kennedy
What exactly Rose’s role will be remains unclear. But a new PlayStation Store leak finally gives us Leon fans certainty about his rumored return. The game's cover was accidentally released — and behind the protagonist Grace Ashcroft, you can clearly see an older Leon S. Kennedy.
Following the timeline, the former rookie cop should now be nearing his 50s. We suspect that during The Game Awards, we may finally see more – possibly even our first look at Leon’s gameplay.
Since the announcement of Requiem, Capcom has tried to keep theories about Leon Kennedy to a minimum. Although the return of several familiar characters was confirmed, the publisher made it very clear that fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Even if PlayStation revealed the surprise a little too early – in our opinion, it’s still a great one. What role Leon will ultimately play remains to be seen. But Raccoon City wouldn’t be what it is today without Leon S. Kennedy.
Are you excited about the new announcements? Do you plan to play Resident Evil Requiem yourself? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!