With Resident Evil Requiem finally getting a release date at this year’s Summer Game Fest, fans of the long-standing franchise are eagerly waiting to see what the Japanese studio has in store for them this time around.
While Resident Evil Village was quite successful, The developer would not want to rest on its laurels, and Requiem is likely to take things up a notch in both its gameplay and story. With Grace Ashcroft taking over from Ethan Winters, the new story is a perfect opportunity for the franchise to take a trip down memory lane, bringing back familiar faces that have been out of the spotlight for far too long.
With Requiem, The developer seems to be intent on blending the past and present in a title that could weave different characters’ disparate storylines into a cohesive whole. To that end, here are 5 characters we would love to see in Resident Evil Requiem.
5. Leon Scott Kennedy
Leon has come a long way from the rookie cop who was late to work at the beginning of Resident Evil 2. While his good looks, appealing personality, and obvious skill at dealing with Umbrella’s bioweapons make him an obvious choice for Requiem’s cast, his presence in the game would make sense for several reasons.
As a former police officer who went on to achieve dizzying heights in his law enforcement career, Leon would be an excellent supporting character for Grace, assisting her investigation into her mother’s death and bringing his years of experience to the table. He could be a mentor to the younger FBI agent, serving as a treasure trove of knowledge in bioweapons as well as investigative techniques.
Leon’s presence in Requiem could also be an opportunity for The developer to bring back Ada Wong back into the fold. His tumultuous relationship with the cunning mercenary is a great way for The developer to introduce tension into the new game’s story while also bringing another familiar face to the stage.
Additionally, Leon’s time in Racoon City has brought him in contact with several other key members of the franchise’s cast, which would allow The developer to bridge the gap between past titles in the franchise pretty conveniently. It’s a win-win situation for the studio and fans of Leon’s adventures if the rumours surrounding his presence in Requiem are true. We did see the Racoon City Police Department showcased quite prominently in the game’s trailer, after all.
4. Chris Redfield
Chris has been a mainstay for the Resident Evil franchise, having been a part of the original game while making appearances in several other instalments, Resident Evil Village being among them.
As a former member of the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) unit and co-founder of the UN’s Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), Chris is a great addition to any Resident Evil game and Requiem is no exception. Having been a key part of the story in Village, Chris could make a return to the new game in some capacity.
For instance, he could be a source of information about events at the Wrenwood Hotel where Grace’s mother was killed. With whatever bioweapons are bound to show up in Requiem, Chris is sure to turn up in some capacity and come into contact with Grace.
Like Leon, he would be a great mentor to the new protagonist, but could also be a playable character all on his own. A mission or two involving him could show players a new perspective, while adding variety to the game’s combat and exploration in a similar fashion to Resident Evil 6, where he joined Leon, Ada, and Jack Muller as a playable character.
Chris could also be a bridge to past titles in the franchise, and perhaps be more effective at it than Leon considering his presence in several titles in the franchise’s illustrious history. Moreover, with his narrative arc in Village ending with a massive cliffhanger, Requiem is an opportunity for The developer to place him in conflict with the BSAA.
We just hope to see him punching a boulder again at some point.
3. Ada Wong
Smart, calculating, highly skilled, and ruthless, Ada Wong is the quintessential anti-heroine whose turbulent relationship with Leon takes a backseat to her often murky motivations. With her ties to Wesker and the Umbrella Corporation forming a major part of her backstory, she is a great choice for Requiem as Grace’s story is sure to take a trip to the past as she investigates her mother’s death.
Wong could be an interesting addition to Resident Evil Requiem’s cast, with Grace potentially working alongside her to find out more about the Umbrella Corporation and it’s actions in the past. Her very presence is sure to keep players guessing about potential twists and turns in the game’s story considering The developer’s penchant for narratives that hit hard and fast.
Moreover, Wong’s reputation could see Grace reaching out to her for help, perhaps bringing an element of quid pro quo to the story. Fans of the character would certainly love to see her team up with Grace for a couple of chapters after all.
2. Zoe Baker
Zoe Baker’s story reached a bittersweet end in Resident Evil Biohazard’s DLC, leaving her on good terms with Chris after events in the game tore her family apart. Bringing her into the fold in Requiem could be The developer’s way of making her a more permanent addition to the franchise.
For starters, Zoe could be the BSAA’s newest recruit considering that the organization now uses bioweapons to achieve its goals. Although she was fully cured of the mold infection inflicted on her by Eveline, The developer could very well give her special abilities from lingering effects of her unfortunate sickness.
Zoe could be inspired by her time with Chris, choosing to use her powers for good which would bring her to Racoon City and put her on a path to meeting with Grace and assisting her investigation. She could also be an asset to Chris as he investigates the BSAA, using her powers to help him find out more about the organic bioweapons that were sent to investigate the village in the previous game.
Even without powers, Zoe’s determination and ability to find a way to achieve her personal goals would allow her to be an asset to any protagonist lucky enough to work with her. Ethan’s story in Biohazard is a great example of how her tenacity and grit make her a formidable presence in any story. Grace is sure to need as many friends as she can get once Requiem’s threats make themselves known, and Zoe would be a fine ally both in the field and outside of it.
1. Alyssa Ashcroft
Grace’s mother and an investigative reporter with a penchant for sniffing out interesting stories wherever she goes, Alyssa’s efforts to expose the Umbrella Corporation and her subsequent murder as she investigated events at the Wrenwood Hotel already serve as the catalyst for Requiem’s main story.
Bringing her back alive could be a great narrative thread for The developer, allowing it to have several options at its disposal in terms of how the story proceeds. For instance, Grace could find her infected with whatever new threat the game is sure to bring and could be motivated to save her by finding a cure.
Alyssa could perhaps join her daughter’s investigation, bringing her keen instincts and vast experience from past titles to the table. Her presence in the game could also allow Grace’s own narrative arc to bring more depth and emotional heft to Resident Evil’s new protagonist.
It could also be a way to add a sense of urgency to the story if whatever threatens Alyssa comes with limited time to make things right. All things considered, Alyssa is an excellent option for Requiem, and we would love to see her make a triumphant return to the franchise’s expansive cast.
There are a lot of options at The developer’s disposal when it comes to potential characters in Resident Evil Requiem. Fans of the franchise will hope to see their favorites return to the fold, and will wait with bated breath to learn more about the game over the next few months.
Requiem could be the definitive Resident Evil experience, taking advantage of current-gen systems to bring horrors to life. How the game’s cast manages to deal with the threat they pose is sure to maintain the franchise’s penchant for intense action and excellent narratives. No matter who makes the cut, The developer’s ability to keep its players on their toes is sure to come to the surface.
Until then, we will simply have to wait until Resident Evil Requiem finally makes its debut on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows in February 2026.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.