A Leon in Resident Evil 9: Everything We Know So Far

Resident Evil 9 is one of the most talked-about upcoming titles in the survival-horror world, and fans everywhere are asking one question: Will Leon S. Kennedy return as the protagonist? While Capcom has not publicly revealed Resident Evil 9, confirmed its characters, or shared any official trailer, the series’ direction and recent storytelling trends give strong reasons for fans to anticipate Leon’s involvement. This article breaks down everything officially known, what is speculated, what is likely, and why Leon remains at the center of Resident Evil’s fan discussions—all without spreading unverified claims or false “insider leaks.”

As of 2025, Resident Evil 9 has not been officially announced by Capcom. That means no confirmed title, cast, setting, villain, or release year exists. However, Capcom has openly stated in past interviews that Resident Evil is a long-running franchise with multiple projects in development. After the huge success of Resident Evil Village (RE8) and the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 4 Remake, the franchise is guaranteed to continue—and Leon remains one of its most iconic and requested characters. Because of his popularity, many fans believe he will eventually headline another mainline title.

To understand why Leon is expected, we need to look at Capcom’s recent trajectory. RE7 introduced Ethan Winters. RE8 continued his storyline. RE4 Remake brought Leon back into the spotlight with massive success, proving that players still love his character, personality, and combat style. Capcom rarely ignores a fan favorite with such influence. Leon has appeared in multiple main Resident Evil entries—RE2, RE4, and various spin-offs—making him a central figure in the franchise. While Capcom hasn’t confirmed he will lead RE9, it would not be surprising if he plays a major role in the next era of the story.

If Leon were to appear in Resident Evil 9, several narrative possibilities open up. Capcom could continue the timeline after Resident Evil 4 Remake, exploring Leon’s trauma, aging, or his later missions with the U.S. government. Another possibility is that RE9 could connect Leon to the aftermath of Resident Evil Village. This would allow Capcom to unify its storylines: bridging the Ethan Winters saga with the classic characters like Leon, Chris Redfield, Claire, and Jill Valentine. Capcom loves interconnected storytelling, so this theory is widely discussed among fans—even though it remains unconfirmed.

When it comes to world setting, nothing is official. However, Resident Evil games traditionally rotate between isolated villages, infected cities, underground labs, and international bio-terror locations. Fans speculate that RE9 could take place in a Southeast Asian region, a remote island, or an urban location with dense crowds and higher infection risk. If Leon stars in the game, the atmosphere would likely combine RE2’s tense survival horror with RE4’s cinematic action—balancing grounded fear with modern gameplay intensity.

Gameplay expectations follow a similar pattern. While Capcom hasn’t shared mechanics for RE9, many players believe it will continue evolving the third-person action-horror formula seen in RE2 Remake, RE3 Remake, and RE4 Remake. That means immersive environments, strong enemy AI, close-quarters tension, and refined combat. If Leon returns, his signature style—knife techniques, precise gunplay, counterattacks, and tactical movement—would likely be enhanced with next-gen animation and physics.

Graphically, Resident Evil 9 will almost certainly use Capcom’s RE Engine, one of the strongest game engines in the industry. The RE Engine has powered nearly every recent Capcom hit, offering realistic lighting, facial animation, character models, and atmospheric tension. Whether the setting is fog-filled forests, dim urban streets, or abandoned laboratories, RE9 is expected to push next-gen consoles with cinematic realism. However, Capcom has not shown any screenshots, trailers, or previews, so these expectations remain industry-based predictions—not confirmed facts.

Another important question is platforms. Capcom has not announced RE9, so there is no official platform list. However, based on Capcom’s release patterns from 2023–2025, it is highly likely that Resident Evil 9 will target next-generation consoles such as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Cross-gen releases (PS4/Xbox One) are becoming less common, so RE9 is expected to be a truly next-gen survival horror experience. Again: expected, not confirmed.

Fan interest is extremely high because Leon is more than a character—he represents a legacy within the Resident Evil world. His charm, experience, humor, and tragic backstory make him the perfect protagonist for a mature, intense, emotional storyline. While Capcom has not stated that Leon will return for RE9, his popularity makes him the most requested lead for the next major entry.

Final Summary

Resident Evil 9 is not officially announced, and Capcom has not revealed any characters, locations, story details, or release window. However, based on franchise history, fan demand, and Leon S. Kennedy’s enormous influence on the series, many players expect him to return in a major role once the game enters the reveal stage. Until Capcom releases a trailer or announcement, everything must be treated as speculation—but the anticipation for Leon’s comeback has never been stronger.