Resident Evil Requiem Represents the Final Form of Leon S. Kennedy

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The new Resident Evil game, Requiem, is about to be released, and fans are eager to see what Capcom has in store for the future of the series. Requiem blends the familiar with the fresh, introducing a new main character alongside the return of Leon S. Kennedy, and offering players the choice between third-person and first-person perspectives. With Kennedy’s return, this game has the potential to strongly connect the newer Resident Evil titles with the classic games that centered around Wesker.

Leon S. Kennedy has been a key figure in the Resident Evil story since the very beginning, unlike characters like Ethan Winters or Grace Ashcroft. First appearing in Resident Evil 2, he’s faced incredible challenges, evolving from a rookie police officer in Raccoon City to a seasoned international agent. He’s gone from an optimistic newcomer to a tough, experienced, and sometimes cheesy hero. While his last official in-game appearance was in Resident Evil 6 (2012), it’s clear he’s still actively fighting bio-weapons, and likely more skilled than ever. His activities during Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village remained a mystery until now, but confirm he’s remained in the field.

Most Resident Evil games are set in the year they come out, though the remakes often break that pattern.

Zero to Hero: Leon Kennedy’s Story So Far

These summaries will focus on the main Resident Evil games and won’t cover spin-offs or movies, as those don’t significantly affect Leon’s development or where he stands at the start of Resident Evil: Requiem.

Resident Evil 2

Leon Kennedy’s involvement with bio-organic weapons (BOWs) began with the disastrous Raccoon City Incident in 1998 – his very first day as a police officer. Despite being new to the force, Leon, with help from Ada Wong and Claire Redfield, discovered crucial details about the T-Virus and G-Virus. He learned these viruses were created by scientist William Birkin, and that Birkin’s employer, Umbrella Corporation, was secretly funded by the US government to develop advanced bioweapons.

In the end, Leon and Claire managed to destroy Birkin’s lab, and the US military completely leveled Raccoon City to cover up their role in the outbreak. After separating from Claire, Leon was taken into custody by the military, who saw him as a risk because of what he knew about the connection between the US government and Umbrella Corporation. However, his actions in Raccoon City showed he was incredibly skilled – he almost single-handedly stopped the G-Virus from spreading, something the military couldn’t do. This led to Leon being recruited and trained as a special operative for the United States Strategic Command, joining a task force dedicated to fighting Umbrella. As part of STRATCOM, he honed his combat and survival skills, particularly during Operation Javier in 2002, which is detailed in Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles.

Resident Evil 4

Two years after the Javier incident, Leon was sent to a small village in Spain to find Ashley Graham, the twenty-year-old daughter of the US President, who had been kidnapped on her way home from college. He fought his way through waves of bio-organic weapons created by a dangerous cult called Los Illuminados. This cult stemmed from an old, obscure religion that believed in completely dedicating themselves to a legendary creature they considered divine. This made them vulnerable to Osmund Saddler, a ruthless leader who had stolen research from the Umbrella Corporation, including the mind-controlling Plagas parasite. Saddler intended to combine the Plagas with the cult’s religious zeal to achieve massive power and control on a global scale.

Leon, with the help of Ada Wong and Ashley, managed to foil Saddler’s scheme and eliminate most of the Plaga parasites. However, Wong secretly kept a Plaga sample for herself—it was too valuable to destroy, given the events unfolding in the latter part of Resident Evil 4. Fortunately, Leon and Ashley both survived the ordeal with Las Plagas, which boosted Leon’s reputation with the U.S. government.

Resident Evil 6

Following the events with Las Plagas, Adam Benford, a US intelligence officer who had mentored Leon and brought him into STRATCOM, eventually became President. He intended to publicly reveal the truth about the Raccoon City disaster in a 2013 speech. However, a secretive group known as The Family unleashed a C-Virus outbreak, infecting Benford and leaving Leon with no choice but to end his life.

The story of Resident Evil 6 starts here, and quickly becomes complex, following multiple characters – not just Leon. It’s known as one of the more debated games in the Resident Evil series. Leon’s personal story centers around getting revenge for Benford’s death and uncovering the truth behind the C-Virus outbreak. By the end, he’s deeply saddened by the loss of his friend and has learned a lot about secret international groups and how biological weapons are used in global conflicts.

How Will Leon’s Past Impact Resident Evil Requiem?

In Resident Evil Requiem, Leon is a seasoned agent, nearing fifty, who has dedicated most of his adult life to fighting bioweapons worldwide. The story begins with him investigating the vanishing of a police officer, a case linked to a mysterious new biological weapon. During this investigation, he meets Grace Ashcroft, the other main character in Requiem.

Leon is a highly skilled fighter and survivor, with decades of experience battling various threats, including soldiers and terrifying creatures. He’s proven he can often handle situations on his own. However, his past experiences with government corruption and betrayal have made him distrustful. Having lost friends and nearly his life due to conflicts over bioweapons, these traumas have deeply affected him. Ideally, this will lead to Leon becoming not just a capable fighter, but a complex and resilient character, with inner strength to match his combat skills and intelligence.

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2026-01-27 00:12