Resident Evil Requiem Showcase Reveals Leon's RE4-Inspired Combat with Tomahawk Parries and Stealth Kills

Capcom held its highly anticipated Biohazard Showcase on January 16, 2026, delivering 12 minutes of new information about Resident Evil Requiem. The highlight was the first look at Leon S. Kennedy's gameplay, revealing an action-packed combat system inspired by Resident Evil 4.

Leon's Combat System

As a veteran DSO agent, Leon brings an arsenal of new combat techniques to Resident Evil Requiem. His signature weapon is a tomahawk that enables devastating melee attacks and a parry system that allows players to deflect enemy strikes and counter with brutal finishing moves.

The showcase demonstrated the game's body-part targeting system. Shooting a zombie's knees causes it to kneel, setting up opportunities for powerful kicks or execution moves. Leon can also approach enemies from behind for silent stealth kills, adding tactical options to encounters.

Dual Protagonist System

Resident Evil Requiem features two playable protagonists with contrasting gameplay styles. While Leon's sections deliver exhilarating RE4-style action from a third-person perspective, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft provides first-person survival horror focused on resource management and atmosphere.

Capcom describes the experience as jumping between a hot sauna and cold bath. Grace's chapters emphasize trembling fear as she faces horrors for the first time, while Leon's veteran status allows for more aggressive, confidence-driven combat.

Classic Features Return

The game offers three difficulty settings from the start. Standard (Classic) difficulty brings back the beloved ink ribbon save system for Grace's sections, requiring players to manage their saves as a resource. Casual mode provides aim assistance for newcomers.

Set after the events of Resident Evil 6, the story follows Leon investigating suspicious deaths that lead him to a quarantine facility overrun with infected. The central mystery revolves around "Elpis," a keyword connecting Grace's mother's death to Leon's own secrets.

Resident Evil Requiem launches February 27, 2026 alongside a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, amiibo figures, Hamilton watch collaborations, and 1/6 scale figures of Leon and Grace arriving in Fall 2026. For more Capcom action, see Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

For more horror games, see Silent Hill 2 Remake success story.