Hideki Kamiya Pitch: A Cozy Resident Evil With Leon in Retirement

Legendary game director Hideki Kamiya says his retirement-era dream would be a “cozy” kind of Resident Evil follow-up, one that keeps the recognizable Leon S. Kennedy energy while swapping out horror set pieces for everyday calm. It’s a striking creative detour for a franchise built on dread, but Kamiya’s pitch leans hard into the idea of a survival-horror story where fear takes a back seat.

Kamiya has already brought attention to this softer direction in recent days. He was filmed jokingly hinting that the series could benefit from a “non-scary mode,” where players could simply enjoy the puzzles without the constant pressure of threats and tension.

Now, the director appears to have expanded on that concept with a more concrete social-media pitch. When a fan asked whether Kamiya might someday create a new Resident Evil entry that neatly ties together the story arcs of Leon and Claire Redfield, he responded with an idea focused on Leon’s later years—specifically, Leon living without zombies anywhere in sight.

Resident Evil Requiem concept: Leon without zombies

In Kamiya’s imagined version, Leon wouldn’t be fighting grotesque wildlife or hunting through claustrophobic environments for survival. Instead of dealing with mutant crocodiles, he’d spend his time fishing for food. Rather than encountering freezer-based horrors like Regenerators, he’d be helping out elderly neighbors with practical home tasks and repairs. And when it comes to zombie canines, the only dog Leon would see would be his own loyal pet hound.

“If I made it, it’d turn into a game where retired Leon goes fishing in the countryside,” Kamiya said in a post on X (Twitter).

He continued with the kind of routine activities that define the tone of his pitch: foraging for wild vegetables, baking bread, taking walks with the dog, tending a home garden, driving about 50 km to the general store for supplies, inviting old friends over for a barbecue, fixing a neighbor grandma’s oven when she asks, and selling homemade lemonade at a local festival—then asking, essentially, whether that sounds like a good idea.

Players may love the concept, but it’s still not clear that this cozy approach is what’s actually coming next for Leon. Resident Evil Requiem is expected to receive a major story expansion down the line, and fans already have their own wish lists—often focused on familiar characters and story developments rather than picking vegetables and tending gardens. Of course, all of this is separate from another recent announcement: Resident Evil: Veronica, which is set to launch sometime in 2027.

In the meantime, if you’re planning for the series’ next darker beats, IGN has a Resident Evil: Requiem guide intended to help players through RE9, including safety-focused tips and early guidance on key items. The walkthrough is also described as covering the path from the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center to Raccoon City, with attention to collectibles like Bobbleheads and files.