Capcom Reportedly Wanted Leon as the Only Protagonist in Resident Evil: Requiem

Capcom initially considered making Leon S. Kennedy the sole protagonist of Resident Evil: Requiem, but the developers ultimately decided that he no longer matched the game’s intended scary, survival-horror atmosphere.

According to the team’s internal reasoning, Leon’s presence naturally shifts the player’s mindset away from fear — and more toward action.

Leon Became Too “Powerful” for Pure Horror

Developers reportedly noticed that players tend to treat Leon as a character meant for combat and domination, rather than tension and vulnerability.

Instead of being afraid of zombies and surviving with limited resources — like in Resident Evil 2 — many players prefer to go on a full-on massacre run when playing as Leon.

That reaction makes it difficult to maintain the slow-burning fear and high-stress pacing that defined the franchise’s earlier entries.

His Government Background Changed the Character Too Much

Another major issue was Leon’s character development over the years.

A lot has changed since his early days as a rookie cop. His time working with the U.S. government shaped him into an experienced, battle-hardened agent — and that level of skill and confidence simply doesn’t align with the feeling of being helpless or trapped, which is essential for classic Resident Evil horror.

In other words: Leon’s combat experience makes him feel too capable to truly be terrifying to play as.

Grace Ashcroft Was Added to Restore Fear and Tension

To keep the right balance of terror, suspense, and vulnerability, Capcom decided to introduce a new playable character: Grace Ashcroft.

With Grace in the game, the developers could maintain the signature tone of early Resident Evil titles — where every hallway feels dangerous, every encounter is stressful, and survival matters more than power.

Her inclusion is said to help preserve the optimal level of fear and pressure that fans associate with the franchise’s most iconic horror moments.

Leon Appeared in a Presentation — But Won’t Be in the Final Version

Interestingly, Capcom previously showed footage of Leon inside a police station during a presentation, sparking speculation that he would be central to the game.

However, those scenes are reportedly not planned for the final version of Resident Evil: Requiem.

The developers were simply experimenting with gameplay concepts at the time — and Leon’s appearance was part of that early testing phase.

For now, it looks like Capcom is focused on delivering a more intense horror experience, even if it means leaving one of the franchise’s most beloved characters out of the spotlight.