Resident Evil 9 leaks finally bring two fan-favourites together
It's been three years since Resident Evil Village took us to the horrors of Castle Dimitrescu, and while we always knew this wasn't going to be the end of the road, we're getting a little itchy (tasty) for news on what's next for the Resiverse.
After the success of Resident Evil 7 resurrected the franchise and took it back to its horror roots, Village was another certified hit that channelled the gothic vibes of the beloved Resident Evil 4. Although we now know things won't round off with a Winter Trilogy, that only makes Resident Evil 9 even more interesting.
Resident Evil 9 leaks tease its protagonists
One of the big questions of any Resi game is who will be taking on the corporate greed of Umbrella. From the ensemble of 1996's original to Jill and Carlos taking on Nemesis in RE3, the overstuffed RE6, and Ethan facing off against the Bakers in RE7, there are any number of fan-favourites who could return for the next chapter.
German leaker Andi apparently has the scoop on Resident Evil 9, and with noted Resi leaker Dusk Golem also backing up their credentials, we're hopeful that there's at least some truth to these rumours. The big news is that Resident Evil 9 could bring together Jill Valentine and Leon S. Kennedy.
Jill has been notably absent from the series since Resident Evil 5, while Leon appeared in Resident Evil 6. We've previously heard about Jill playing a part in the next game, and having been MIA for so long, it makes sense. As for Leon, he's recently found new fame thanks to 2023's Resident Evil 4 remake.
The leak claims that Jill will serve in a similar capacity as Sheva did to Chris in RE5, and although it was originally pitched as a co-op game, it's since been dialled back to single-player. Elsewhere, it's not expected to be fully open-world, and there's an update that the rumoured RE5 remake has been put on pause.
A franchise first with Jill and Leon
Click to enlargeResponding to the news, there was a sea of sceptics. One said, "This leak is too good to be true, but who knows." Another added, "God Capcom please announce RE9 already and debunk these so-called leakers," and a third said, "Capcom has proven not to be so tone-deaf in the last 5+ years. My expectation is for whatever this game is it’ll be good but these “leaks” are either twisted information or flat wrong."
Someone else concluded, "THIS is the news I wanted to hear. Give us the Code Veronica Remake for dual Redfields, and then give us the Jill/Leon team-up we've always wanted with 9. Put it on a tropical island paradise and we're all f*****g set."
If there's any truth in the rumours (and it's a big if), this would be the first time Jill and Leon have interacted in the games. It was only in 2023's Resident Evil: Death Island TV series that they shared the screen together, and for many, they've been begging for this dynamic duo to share a game.
