We may now know the solution to Capcom’s devious Resident Evil Requiem Final Puzzle, but a whole new mystery is just beginning for fans — one centered on Leon S. Kennedy, and a huge secret that’s only hinted at in the game’s closing moments.
Warning: Spoilers for Resident Evil Requiem follow.
Concept artwork for Leon S. Kennedy unlocked after beating Resident Evil Requiem shows a look at the hero’s hand… wearing a wedding band.
There are two versions of this artwork: one where Leon’s hand is infected and ring-less, and one without the infection where a silver ring can be seen, worn on his ring finger.
Leon spends most of his time in Requiem showing signs of nasty infection — something he hides under a pair of gloves. (Even if you unlock alternate glove-less outfits, he still appears to be ring-less.)
Watch the game’s final cutscene extremely carefully, however, and you’ll see him finally discard these gloves as he walks away from Grace — then reach into his back pocket. His hand movements here are deliberately subtle, but match up with him affixing a ring back onto his finger, now he has been cured and is finally heading back off-duty. It’s tough to see clearly, but fans have also zoomed into his hand in the final shot of him walking away — and yes, there is the glint of something there.
As you might expect, the suggestion that Leon S. Kennedy is now married has sparked an enormous amount of debate among fans, with the obvious next question being — who is Leon married to? Already, fans have formed strong opinions on whether it is someone we have seen before, and if so, who is more suited to Resident Evil’s leading guy.
The most obvious candidate is Claire Redfield, sister of Chris, and Leon’s co-star back in Resident Evil 2. Claire being Leon’s wife would provide a nice symmetry with this story being set back in Raccoon City, and also tie Leon to Chris as brothers in law. The game’s ending, which namechecks Chris but keeps him offscreen, even seems like it is setting something up here — though it’s unclear whether this is for DLC, a separate future game or just for the fans.
“Realistically going off remake story Claire would make the most sense narratively,” wrote TheGrimmBorne in a lengthy reddit thread on Leon’s love life. “OG games pushed Ada a lot, the remake seems to push Claire as the main romance. In 4R he is extremely untrusting and ‘over’ Ada, in 2 the director straight told Leon and Claire to talk acting as if they have a crush.”
And then there’s Ada. Leon has pined after her for most of the series, and memorably referred to her in Resident Evil 4 as “like a part of me I can’t let go.” But is she really the marrying type? Other fans, meanwhile, have suggested that Leon is secret hitched to Sherry, though there’s nothing specific in Requiem that would confirm that.
“He may not be married in the traditional sense with a dog and picket fence, but I think he’s symbolically off the market,” wrote UnusualShopping in another lengthy reddit thread. “Romance has been a conflict in his life. Part of his particular arc moving forward, is his lover boy persona being moved on from. I expect him and Ada, some time off screen, have come to a more official understanding. He has other options that would all make good partners, but narratively, if it’s not Ada all of that build up was for… what?”
Alternatively, could this just be Capcom giving Leon a quiet character moment? If this is the last time we see Resident Evil’s beloved floppy-haired hero, we at least know he now has a happier life outside of work, beyond shooting monsters and saving the world.
IGN’s Resident Evil: Requiem guide will help you every step of the way through RE9. Take note of these key tips and tricks before you get started, and focus on finding these important items early. Plus, our comprehensive walkthrough will make sure you don’t miss a single Bobblehead or file as you try to survive from the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center all the way to Raccoon City.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
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