Capcom explains why Leon isn't Resident Evil 9's protagonist: They wanted a victim, not a hero

Capcom explains why fan-favorite Leon Kennedy isn't the main character in Resident Evil 9, essentially saying that he doesn't fit the game's tone of "addictive fear."

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New Resident Evil 9: Requiem details have emerged that reveal Capcom's thought process on the game's new protagonist, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft. According to the devs, Requiem is focused more on the raw, terrifying side of horror where players feel diminished and hunted. None of Resident Evil's previous characters fit the bill, so Capcom created a new one.

Capcom's formula is something like this: Leon is good for survival, but bad for RE9's specific 'addictive fear' type of horror because of the machismo power fantasy that he invokes to players. Leon is tall, rugged, and faces the zombie apocalypse with grim determination.

"We always thought about making Leon the protagonist, but making a horror game based around him is difficult. He wouldn't jump at something like a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing," Resident Evil 9 game director Koshi Nakanishi said in the developer presentation.

"So he's actually quite a bad match for horror."

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Grace, on the other hand, is more of a victim. She's a trained FBI agent who can use guns, sure, but she's no blustering hero--Grace is just as afraid as we are.

"She's introverted and easily scared, which is a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. We wanted someone that experiences horror from the same perspective as the player," Nakanishi said.

"Grace learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story, but she's also an analyst for the FBI who's trained with guns and is able to act with calm deductive reasoning."

She might be a victim at the start, but it might not stay that way. It'll be interesting to see what kinds of progression that Capcom has planned insofar as Grace's character development, and whether or not that has an impact on gameplay.

"Conceptually, Grace is a character who overcomes challenges with her wit and ingenuity. That's the kind of personality we've developed," said RE9 art director Tomonori Takano.

"It was probably inevitable when making a horror game, but she's not a superhero like past protagonists. She survives using her own strengths. That's part of her charm."

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"In a way, she's more like a typical horror protagonist. I think that's reflected directly in her character. Of course, as a Resident Evil protagonist, she can handle action and firearms, especially as she's an FBI agent. But her movements can be timid or hesitant," said game producer Masachika Kawata.

Resident Evil 9: Requiem releases February 27, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.