Capcom has confirmed that classic, Raccoon City-linked characters will show up in the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, but the studio does not want fans dreaming about huge, headline-grabbing returns. According to the game’s producer, Grace Ashcroft and her story sit firmly at the center of this survival-horror sequel, while familiar faces are there to enrich the narrative rather than serve as a loud marketing trick.

Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest survival-horror releases. After several years without a new mainline entry in the series, the community is more than ready to dive back into a tension-filled fight for survival. Hype is even higher because the game once again puts Raccoon City at the heart of the story, this time through the eyes of Grace Ashcroft, which naturally has fans wondering whether icons like Leon S. Kennedy might be stepping back into the spotlight.

Classic Characters In Resident Evil Requiem?

Masato Kumazawa, producer on the survival-horror title, has explained that Resident Evil Requiem will indeed feature classic characters tied to the Raccoon City incident, but he also urged players not to expect massive, marketing-driven comebacks. He reminded fans that the main protagonist this time is Grace Ashcroft, daughter of journalist Alissa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak, so any returning faces are meant to support the story and its themes instead of turning the game into a pure nostalgia showcase.

“I would say yes, there will be some characters from the previous saga, but don’t get your hopes up too high. We can’t promise anything about it, but the only thing I can say is that there will be characters who were involved in the Raccoon City incident in the game”, Kumazawa said in an interview with Well Played. Over the last few weeks, there have been plenty of rumors about a possible role for Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem. Capcom has not outright confirmed that theory, but it has not shut it down either, which means there is still a real chance he could appear.

Several big names connected to the Raccoon City incident could theoretically make the cut in Resident Evil Requiem, including Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, and even Carlos Oliveira. Until Capcom shows more of the game, fans are left to speculate, but every new comment from the developers is being dissected in search of clues. What is certain for now is that Resident Evil Requiem is scheduled to launch on February 27, 2026, on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2.

A few days ago, Kumazawa also mentioned that Capcom is considering a potential Resident Evil Requiem demo, as well as how the new title could connect back to the events of Resident Evil Outbreak. If that happens, players may not only get a new protagonist and a fresh angle on Raccoon City, but also a more direct narrative bridge between Outbreak and Requiem.

Source: 3djuegos