Hideki Kamiya, the director behind the acclaimed Resident Evil 2 and creator of its protagonists Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, has playfully envisioned a departure from the survival horror genre for Leon. In response to a fan inquiry about a potential continuation for the characters, Kamiya shared on X that he would prefer to see Leon in a more relaxed setting, akin to popular life simulation games.
Kamiya outlined a hypothetical scenario where a retired Leon would engage in activities such as fishing, foraging for wild vegetables, baking bread, tending to a home garden, and interacting with his local community. This vision includes driving to the general store for supplies, hosting barbecues with old friends, assisting a neighbor with repairs, and even selling homemade lemonade at a local festival. Kamiya expressed that such a game would be "cool." The post garnered significant attention, with over 1.7 million views and 16,000 likes, prompting Kamiya to humorously suggest Capcom consider developing a non-scary Biohazard title.
While Capcom has not ventured into farming or life simulation genres, the success of their recent Resident Evil titles suggests a potential for such a game, especially if linked to a well-known franchise. The notes suggest Leon's existing in-game skills, such as his hatchet use and herb combining, could translate surprisingly well to a life-sim environment.
This is not the first time Kamiya has voiced his reservations about the horror elements in Resident Evil. Earlier this year, following the release of Resident Evil Requiem, he commented that the game was excessively frightening. He expressed a desire for a version where zombies are "cute," blood splatters resemble "cherry blossom petals," and the music is "upbeat and feel-good," allowing players to focus on puzzles and combat in a more lighthearted manner.
Capcom continues to focus on its traditional horror offerings. At Summer Game Fest, the company confirmed a remake of Resident Evil Code Veronica, slated for release in 2027. This remake takes place after the events of RE2 and RE3, with Claire Redfield infiltrating an Umbrella Corporation facility in Paris. While the original game did not feature domestic tranquility, there is speculation that Capcom might consider Kamiya's ideas for future installments.