Resident Evil 9: Requiem hasn’t even launched yet, and the leaks just got absolutely wild. A Reddit post citing insider information claims Oswell Spencer – the founder of Umbrella who died in Resident Evil 5 – is somehow back in the game. Even more shocking, the sentient infected enemies hunting protagonist Grace Ashcroft are reportedly survivors from Resident Evil Outbreak, including fan favorites like George Hamilton and Yoko Suzuki. Oh, and Leon’s role is apparently much smaller than fans hoped.
Spencer Returns With a Chest Wound
According to the leak posted on December 2, 2025, the mysterious goggles-wearing character from the Requiem trailer is actually Oswell E. Spencer, still sporting a visible chest wound. That wound would be from Albert Wesker stabbing him through the chest in Resident Evil 5’s Lost in Nightmares DLC, which canonically killed Spencer back in 2006.
So how could Spencer possibly be alive? The leak doesn’t explain the resurrection mechanics, but fans have theories based on Resident Evil Village’s Shadows of Rose DLC. That expansion revealed the Megamycete fungal consciousness acts like a hive mind where dead people’s memories persist. Miranda and even Ethan appeared after death through this connection. If Spencer experimented with the mold before his death, his consciousness could theoretically survive in some form.
The leaker notes Spencer shows heightened interest in Grace Ashcroft’s bloodline, suggesting whatever brought him back connects to her genetic legacy. Grace is the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Outbreak, and the game’s premise involves her investigating deaths at the Wrenwood Hotel where her mother was murdered eight years ago. Spencer’s involvement implies Grace’s family has significance beyond just being journalists who exposed Umbrella’s crimes.
Outbreak Survivors Become Enemies
Here’s where things get emotionally devastating for longtime fans. The leak claims the sentient infected creatures stalking Grace throughout Requiem are actually the survivors from Resident Evil Outbreak. These characters – George Hamilton, Yoko Suzuki, Kevin Ryman, and others – escaped Raccoon City during the outbreak and testified against Umbrella during the trials that followed.
The leak specifically mentions George Hamilton as responsible for killing Alyssa Ashcroft, Grace’s mother. George was a doctor at Raccoon General Hospital during Outbreak and one of the kindest, most helpful characters in that game. Turning him into a murderous infected enemy who killed the protagonist’s mother is a brutal narrative choice that would recontextualize everything about his character.
Yoko Suzuki allegedly remains uninfected and will assist Grace during the game. Yoko was a biochemistry student at Raccoon University who played a crucial role in creating the Daylight vaccine that cured T-virus infection. Her expertise in virology makes her a logical ally, and she testified against Umbrella alongside Alyssa after escaping the city. If she’s helping Grace, it suggests she knows exactly what’s happening to the other Outbreak survivors.
What About the Hag Creature
The trailer for Requiem featured a terrifying enemy fans nicknamed “the Hag” – a grotesque creature with long limbs and disturbing movement. Early speculation suggested it might be Lisa Trevor or even an infected version of Alyssa herself. The leak shoots down both theories, claiming the Hag is actually a BOW (Bio-Organic Weapon) created using Grace’s blood, which explains its obsessive interest in hunting her.
This revelation raises massive questions about the timeline. How would anyone have access to Grace’s blood before the events of the game? The leak mentions Alyssa was aware Outbreak survivors were being targeted and infected, referring to them as “the others” before her death. If Alyssa discovered this conspiracy eight years before Requiem’s events, someone could have obtained biological samples from her daughter during that investigation.
Leon’s Diminished Role
Leon S. Kennedy appears in Requiem, but according to the leak, his role is “not as prominent as many might believe.” He’s reportedly tasked with locating Grace after she goes missing during her investigation, positioning him more as a supporting character than a co-protagonist. The leak describes Requiem as a bridge game designed to usher in a new chapter for Resident Evil, implying the series is moving away from legacy characters like Leon, Chris, and Jill.
This tracks with Capcom’s recent direction. Resident Evil 7 and 8 successfully told engaging stories with new protagonist Ethan Winters while giving Chris Redfield a supporting role. Grace Ashcroft represents the next generation – an FBI technical analyst thrust into fieldwork rather than a trained soldier or agent. Her inexperience and fear are deliberate character traits meant to differentiate her from the franchise’s action heroes.
Fans who played the Requiem demo report Grace behaves nothing like Leon or Jill. She’s terrified, constantly panicking, and relies on analysis rather than combat skills. Leon’s appearance likely serves to establish contrast – the confident veteran agent versus the rookie analyst way over her head. Their dynamic could provide interesting mentor moments or highlight just how unprepared Grace is for this nightmare.
The Clocktower Returns
The leak mentions the clocktower will be featured as an explorable area in Requiem. This almost certainly refers to the iconic clocktower from Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, where Jill Valentine desperately fought to escape Nemesis while waiting for the cable car. Bringing back this location makes sense given Requiem is set in the ruins of Raccoon City about 30 years after the nuclear destruction.
Exploring a rebuilt or partially restored clocktower would be incredibly nostalgic for longtime fans while showing how the city has changed over three decades. The leak suggests Raccoon City has seen some reconstruction efforts, though clearly something went very wrong to trigger another outbreak. Whether the clocktower functions as a safe room, puzzle area, or major setpiece remains unclear.
Source Credibility Questions
This information comes from WuffWabbit, a content creator who referenced an unnamed Reddit leaker (specifically noting it’s not DuskGolem, the most famous Resident Evil leaker). WuffWabbit has a track record with Resident Evil information – he revealed details about Code Veronica and Zero remakes a month before major outlets reported them, and he knew about the Requiem title weeks before its official announcement.
During his Summer Game Fest stream, WuffWabbit wrote “Requiem” on paper at the start of the broadcast and revealed it at the end, proving he knew the title before Capcom announced it. He also first reported that M-Two (the studio initially handling Resident Evil 4 Remake) was facing development challenges that eventually led to Capcom taking over. His channel has grown significantly after these correct predictions, making him more careful about what he shares to avoid legal issues with Capcom.
That said, none of this information is officially confirmed. The original Reddit post could be speculation, misinformation, or legitimate leaks that might change before the final game releases on February 27, 2026. Capcom has said nothing about Spencer appearing, Outbreak survivors becoming enemies, or Leon having a reduced role.
Why This Matters for the Franchise
If these leaks are accurate, Requiem represents a major turning point for Resident Evil. Bringing back Spencer addresses the series’ oldest unresolved thread – he died offscreen without ever facing justice from the protagonists who suffered because of his actions. Having him return as the final Umbrella founder who needs to be stopped would provide closure to storylines dating back to the original 1996 game.
Turning Outbreak survivors into enemies is emotionally devastating but narratively interesting. These were regular people – a doctor, a student, a police officer, a waitress – who survived impossible odds and tried to rebuild their lives. Watching them become the very monsters they escaped from creates tragedy and raises questions about whether anyone who encountered the T-virus in Raccoon City can ever truly be safe.
Shifting focus away from Leon, Chris, and Jill opens the door for fresh storytelling without the baggage of 28 years of continuity. Grace Ashcroft can have her own journey without fans constantly asking why she’s not as capable as characters with decades of combat experience. The series needs new blood if it wants to continue beyond its aging cast of super-soldiers who’ve defeated dozens of bioweapons.
FAQs
Is Oswell Spencer really alive in Resident Evil 9?
According to leaks, yes – the goggles-wearing character in the trailer is supposedly Spencer with a visible chest wound from Wesker’s attack in RE5. However, this isn’t officially confirmed by Capcom. Fans theorize he could return through the Megamycete consciousness similar to how dead characters appeared in Shadows of Rose.
Are Outbreak survivors really the infected enemies in Requiem?
The leak claims sentient infected creatures hunting Grace are former Outbreak survivors including George Hamilton, with Yoko Suzuki remaining uninfected and helping Grace. George allegedly killed Grace’s mother Alyssa. Again, this is unconfirmed rumor, not official information.
What is Leon’s role in Resident Evil 9?
According to leaks, Leon is tasked with finding Grace after she disappears during her investigation, but his role is smaller than expected. The game is described as a bridge to a new era focusing on Grace rather than legacy characters like Leon.
Who is Grace Ashcroft?
Grace Ashcroft is the main protagonist of Resident Evil 9: Requiem. She’s an FBI technical analyst and daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak. Grace is investigating mysterious deaths at the Wrenwood Hotel in Raccoon City, where her mother was murdered eight years prior.
What is the Hag creature in the Requiem trailer?
The leak claims the Hag is not Lisa Trevor or Alyssa, but rather a BOW created using Grace’s blood, explaining why it shows such interest in her. Early fan theories about it being a major character were apparently incorrect.
Will the clocktower from RE3 appear in Requiem?
Yes, according to the leak, the iconic clocktower will be featured as an explorable area. This makes sense as Requiem is set in Raccoon City approximately 30 years after the nuclear destruction in Resident Evil 3.
How reliable are these Resident Evil 9 leaks?
The information comes from WuffWabbit, who correctly predicted the Requiem title and details about RE remakes before official announcements. However, he’s citing an unnamed Reddit source, so credibility is uncertain. Nothing is confirmed until Capcom makes official statements.
When does Resident Evil 9: Requiem release?
Resident Evil 9: Requiem launches on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is set approximately 30 years after Raccoon City’s destruction.
Why would Capcom turn Outbreak survivors into enemies?
If true, this narrative choice creates tragedy by showing that escaping Raccoon City didn’t guarantee safety. It suggests long-term effects of T-virus exposure and raises questions about whether any survivors can truly be free from their past. It also provides emotional stakes since fans remember these characters as heroes, not monsters.
Conclusion
These Resident Evil 9 leaks paint a picture of a game willing to make controversial narrative choices. Bringing back Spencer addresses loose ends from the franchise’s beginning while turning beloved Outbreak characters into enemies creates genuine emotional stakes. Grace Ashcroft represents Capcom’s attempt to move beyond legacy characters and start fresh with a protagonist who’s actually scared instead of a superhuman action hero. Whether these rumors prove accurate won’t be clear until February 27, 2026, when Requiem finally launches. Until then, fans will continue dissecting every trailer frame and arguing about whether Spencer’s return makes narrative sense or completely breaks established lore. Either way, Capcom has everyone talking about Resident Evil again, which might be the whole point.