'Fake News': Resident Evil Requiem Developers Dismiss Much-Discussed Fan Image of Leon With an Eyepatch

Resident Evil Requiem's shaper has attempted to code the persistent speculation that fan-favorite quality Leon S. Kennedy volition look successful the game, by branding a peculiar representation arsenic "fake news."

Capcom continues to beforehand the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem arsenic a caller introduction successful the bid starring caller protagonist Grace Ashcroft, though has ne'er explicitly stated that she is the sole playable character.

Indeed, erstwhile IGN sat down with Capcom astatine Gamescom 2025 successful August, we were told that its unit members would not sermon immoderate net rumors of definite different characters appearing. But now, successful an interrogation with Stevivor, shaper Masato Kumazawa has astatine slightest acknowleged the ongoing speculation — and confirmed 1 peculiar representation is simply a instrumentality creation.

Resident Evil fans person precocious been debating the veracity of an representation shared wide connected societal media that features an older Leon with an eyepatch. Many had suggested the representation was apt AI-generated, and now, addressing this representation specifically, Kumazawa has described it arsenic "fake news."

"Apart from immoderate authoritative accusation that Capcom has released, the remainder is much [fan] detective work," Kumazawa said. "So I would suggest to delight not instrumentality everything astatine look value. Considering that present is the clip erstwhile AI [can beryllium utilized to make] videos and photos, we don't cognize what's close oregon what's wrong.

"Players are escaped to judge what they would similar to believe," helium continued, "what I'd similar to archer is that, please, unless it's officially released from Capcom, we can't springiness you immoderate confirmation."

Looking astatine this again, I deliberation this leaked representation of RE9 Leon is fake. The pupil successful his oculus is missing. The eyepatch is blurred and retired of place. The hairsbreadth strands is painted on. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/KT43m1NOU2

Another caller root of treatment among Resident Evil fans is the labelling of DLC costumes for Grace Ashcroft recovered wrong the game's deluxe edition. This pricier bundle advertises the information it contains 5 further costumes total, though lone a mates for Grace person truthful acold been showcased. As good arsenic that, each in-game point is labelled with the "Grace's Costume:" prefix, thing fans person excitedly suggested means that much costumes for different characters (Leon) are being held back.

"There has been a photograph lately of Leon with an eyepatch, and conscionable fundamentally saying there's a DLC oregon a caller costume for Leon," Kumazawa stated, "but conscionable to marque sure, these are each fake news."

Once again, however, Capcom appears to person stopped abbreviated of saying Leon isn't successful the crippled — and astatine this point, if helium wasn't, you'd deliberation its developers would privation to acceptable the grounds consecutive successful bid to commencement managing expectations.

Resident Evil Requiem launches connected February 27, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S — whether it includes Leon oregon not.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social