Resident Evil Requiem Brings Leon Back with New Tools and Timing

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Capcom has shared fresh hands-on details for Resident Evil Requiem, highlighting a playable Leon S. Kennedy in new sections set at Rhodes Hill hospital. The studio contrasts Leon’s action-driven loop with co-protagonist Grace Ashcroft’s evasion‑first approach. The update covers weapons – including the “Requiem” revolver – an overhauled melee option via a combat hatchet, and inventory differences between characters. Developer comments also frame Leon’s older, world‑worn persona. The game is slated to arrive on PS5 on February 27.

Dual Protagonists, Distinct Playstyles

Capcom positions the campaign as two complementary experiences. Grace Ashcroft leans on evasion, puzzle solving, and tight resource management, with limited offensive tools. Leon, by contrast, channels the crowd‑control intensity reminiscent of Resident Evil 4 – faster engagements, heavier stopping power, and aggressive follow‑ups. The aim, according to the studio, is a balance between the tension of RE2 and the kinetic combat of RE4.

Leon's Combat Toolkit and Firearms

Leon’s hospital section features a familiar but expanded arsenal and stat-driven progression. Weapons carry categorized attributes, and upgrades will function similarly to the RE4 remake.

• Firearms – Alligator Snapper pistol; MSBG 500 pump‑action shotgun.
• Attachment – a pistol mod that reduces muzzle climb for easier follow‑up shots.
• Explosives – Leon appears to have exclusive access to hand grenades for crowd control.
• Stats – Power, Stability, Precision, Rate of Fire, Reload Speed, Ammo Capacity.
• Upgrades – Capcom says the upgrade process is functionally similar to RE4 (2023), with more details to come.

The "Requiem" Revolver

A standout in Leon’s loadout is the high‑powered “Requiem” revolver, which offers piercing shots but trades away ammo capacity. It’s issued as part of Leon’s new employment setup and can drop bulky foes with precise headshots.

“[The title ‘Requiem’] references a remembrance of not only the [Raccoon City outbreak] incident itself, but all the effects and the people who were affected by it… so the Requiem gun also, in a way, lays the enemies to peace.” — Kōshi Nakanishi, Director

Melee Overhaul: from Knife to Hatchet

Leon swaps his classic knife for a combat hatchet, used for direct damage, timed parries, and finishers. The hatchet features a sharpness meter that, when depleted, disables parries until Leon sharpens it. It also doubles as a utility tool to pry open certain cabinets and doors not available to Grace.

• Quick use – rapid swings for close‑quarters damage.
• Charged strike – hold to unleash a stronger, staggering spin attack.
• Parry – effective when sharpened; unavailable if dulled.
• Stealth – crouch to set up hatchet takedowns from concealment.

“[Leon’s hatchet] is another way that the team wanted to show that Leon now has a lot more experience… so that was why they ended up changing the knife to a hatchet.” — Kōshi Nakanishi, Director

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Inventory and Crafting Differences

Character design extends to how gear is carried and created. Leon uses a 7×10 grid case that allows manual organization, rotation, and auto‑sorting, evoking RE4’s attaché system. Grace starts with a more restrictive eight‑slot layout and relies more on storage boxes and capacity upgrades.

Crafting also diverges. Leon follows a traditional recipe set, combining scrap, gunpowder, and other materials for ammo and items, including the Stacked Hand Grenade – effectively doubling explosive output.

Chainsaws, Parries, and Heavy Targets

Chainsaw‑wielding doctors return. Leon can parry a chainsaw with precise timing, and upon defeating its wielder, temporarily use the chainsaw himself. Dropped, still‑spinning saws can injure the player, adding risk to the chaos.

Enemy encounters spotlight the power gap between protagonists. The Blister Head, which previously overwhelmed Grace, fell to a few shotgun blasts followed by a hatchet finisher. The massive Chunk can be stunned by repeated shotgun fire and punished with prompted hatchet blows, reinforcing Leon’s crowd‑control identity.

Leon's State of Mind

Capcom emphasizes Leon’s age and outlook after decades of biohazard crises, reflected in his voice, demeanor, and more grounded quips.

“He’s seen a lot of sacrifice, a lot of tragedy… that weight is something that the development team wanted to express with Leon’s appearance and personality in Requiem.” — Kōshi Nakanishi, Director

Release Window

Resident Evil Requiem is scheduled to launch on PS5 on February 27, according to the official announcement.

Bottom Line – Why This Matters

Requiem threads the needle between RE2’s dread and RE4’s momentum by splitting design duties between Grace and Leon. For players, that means clear role variety, a deeper combat sandbox with the hatchet and “Requiem” revolver, and a modernized inventory loop that should feel familiar yet distinct.