Resident Evil Legend Leon Kennedy Officially Returns January 2027

1 hour ago 36

Published Oct 24, 2026, 12:00 AM EDT

Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there.

Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers.

First appearing in 1998's Resident Evil 2, Leon Kennedy swiftly became one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. Known for his dashing good looks, flowing locks, and one-liners, the rookie police officer finds himself immersed in a zombie apocalypse on his very first day with the Raccoon City Police Department, and it was not long before he became one of the faces of the entire Capcom franchise.

Now, almost three decades later, and Leon Kennedy has gone on to star in 11 Resident Evil titles, with his most recent appearance being in 2026's Resident Evil Requiem, where he stars alongside brand-new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. With the once-rookie police officer now in his late 40s/early 50s, it may be time for him to hang up his holster. However, it seems as though that is not the case, as he is set to make another triumphant return in January 2027.

With the Resident Evil franchise currently celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, we already have one project to look forward to when the Code Veronica remake launches in Autumn 2027. However, we also know that a new Resident Evil remake collection is also in development, allowing fans to return to the very beginning, albeit on modern platforms.

In a report by Nintendo Life, this brand-new remake collection could launch as early as January 2027, and will be the perfect way to make the wait for Resident Evil 10 that little less painful. The report details that Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 will be receiving a Nintendo Switch 2 port after being announced for the first time back in early September.

However, perhaps most exciting is the news that, if you want to dive into these remakes now, they were added to the Nintendo Switch eShop on 16 October. That being said, if you are a collector, you will have to wait until the new year to get your hands on physical copies.

It remains to be seen if this "physical release" refers to either a Nintendo Switch cartridge or just a Game-Key Card for Nintendo Switch 2, but what we do know, is the file sizes for each of the remakes.

Put simply, if you wish to download them all, you are going to have to make quite some room on your Nintendo handheld. According to the Nintendo Life report, Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition requires 14GB, whilst Resident Evil 3 only requires 12.9GB. As for Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, it will need a huge 29GB worth of space.

Leon Kennedy in the village in Resident Evil 4

That being said, it is worth remembering that each of these editions includes both the base game and all of its DLC. Not only does this explain the file size, but it will also allow you to catch up on the entirety of the Resident Evil classics before diving into some of the more recent entries. For example, purchasing Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition will also bag you the highly rated Separate Ways DLC.

So, if you want to see Leon Kennedy's origin story, and see how the gruff older gentleman we see in Resident Evil Requiem 9 became a hardened survivor, look no further than the Resident Evil remake collection, which launches physically in January 2027.