Leon seemingly can't help staying away. While we're still a couple of months away from Resident Evil Requiem's release, it looks like there could be a surprise return awaiting fans. Before it was removed, the PlayStation Store revealed new cover art for the game that featured longtime Resident Evil protagonist Leon Kennedy. PlayStation 5 players noticed the art on the pre-download screen for owners of the standard (non-Deluxe) version of the game. IGN later confirmed the art, which showed a stubbled and haggard-looking Leon hovering over Requiem's other main protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. Leon appeared similar to his Resident Evil 4 look, with his fur-lined leather jacket, albeit a bit more grizzled. High-res image of the official Leon S. Kennedy version of the Resident Evil Requiem Playstation 5 icon that Sony accidentally leaked. pic.twitter.com/UpmAjU1LCp Leon's inclusion in the game has been something that Capcom has vehemently denied, with even producer Masato Kumazawa denouncing alleged leaked images of Leon going around last month. "There has been a photo lately of Leon with an eyepatch, and just basically saying there's a DLC or a new costume for Leon--but just to make sure, these are all fake news," he told Stevivor in an interview, and added not to believe anything at face value. So even though there was an attempt to keep Leon's involvement under wraps, Requiem still has plenty of surprises. Earlier this week, a GameStop listing mentioned another character who hasn't been officially revealed yet: Rosemary Winters, who fans think will have a smaller role. It also looks like if she shows up, she'll still have both of her eyes. Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC. Latest in Resident Evil Requiem TGA 2025 Predictions: What's Going To Happen At The Game Awards? Resident Evil Requiem Will See Returning Characters, But Don't Get Too Excited Resident Evil Requiem Abandoned Multiplayer Vision Because It Wasn't Scary Enough