In Capcom’s Resident Evil: Requiem, released earlier this year, players witnessed the long-awaited return of the series’ iconic character “Leon,” who teamed up with the new character Grace to resolve another major biohazard crisis that threatened the world. By the game’s ending, some hidden Easter eggs suggested he may have settled down and started a family, and is currently living a semi-retired life. What kind of life this character will lead after retirement remains a question of great interest to many fans.
According to Resident Evil 2 producer Hideki Kamiya, he did indeed plan a game for this veteran Resident Evil character who had worked hard for most of his life—one that would tell the story of his “retirement life.” Moreover, the overall style was even diametrically opposed to the series’ signature survival horror.
Not long ago, the producer who helped Capcom create Leon’s debut appearance joked after playing Resident Evil: Requiem that he hoped the developers would add a “non-scary” mode. Recently, when responding to fan questions, he went even further with his thoughts, saying that if he had the chance to work on a “Leon’s farewell” title, he would end this legendary character’s career with a warmer, cozier game that would even be somewhat reminiscent of Stardew Valley.
“If I were the one doing it, players would see a retired Leon fishing in the countryside, foraging wild vegetables and fruits, baking bread, walking the dog, tending his own garden, driving 50 kilometers to buy groceries, inviting some old friends over for a barbecue, helping his elderly neighbor fix her oven, and selling lemonade at the village festival—it would definitely be so cool,” he said.
Although it’s still unclear how serious Hideki Kamiya is being about this response, given the popularity of the Resident Evil series and the character Leon, such a spin-off casual game could indeed be successful. Beyond the fact that the theme completely departs from the series’ horror survival roots, such a game could also let players see another side of Leon. Moreover, many casual-style games have sparked heated discussions among players in recent years, like Dave the Diver or Stardew Valley.
As for whether Leon will have another chance to appear in future entries of the Resident Evil franchise, Capcom has yet to give an answer, but recent rumors have suggested that this character will once again take the lead in the story DLC currently in development for Resident Evil: Requiem, using it to explore the aftermath of the main story or fill in some plot gaps.
Additionally, at the June game showcase, Capcom finally confirmed that the Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake will release in 2027, while numerous other rumors suggest that Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil 1 remakes, as well as the main series entry Resident Evil 10, are all also in development.
Source: KOCPC Chinese