What happened to Leon after Resident Evil 6?

After blasting through hordes of infected in the blockbuster 2012 game Resident Evil 6, legendary special agent Leon S. Kennedy embarked on further harrowing adventures against bioterrorism threats. While details on Leon’s recent exploits remain murky, fans still have cause to hope for more show-stealing appearances as this resilient anti-hero’s saga continues.

Kicking Ass and Taking Names in ‘Resident Evil: Vendetta‘

Set a mere year after Leon’s intense crusade in RE6, the action-packed 2017 CG film Resident Evil: Vendetta reunited gamers with a slightly older yet still supremely badass version of the iconic gunslinger. When a terrifying new viral strain created by the fiendish Glenn Arias begins turning New York’s inhabitants into zombies, Leon springs into action alongside series mainstays Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers.

Facing off against Glenn’s over-the-top death traps and genetic monstrosities, Leon proves his endurance has only grown stronger since past horrors in Raccoon City, Spain, and China. Blasters in hand, he unleashes an array of martial arts takedowns and physics-defying stunts while spouting his trademark quips. Even as danger looms, Vendetta captures that dynamic mix of grit, goofiness, and graphical violence quintessential to Resi lore.


While Leon takes a backseat supporting role compared to Chris and Rebecca’s emotional arcs, fans still relish glimpses into how his life and personality have progressed post-outbreak.

As shown in the table above, Leon has spent over half his life battling bioweapons, yet retains a sardonic optimism regarding humanity’s capacity for good in the face of terror. Based on fans’ wildly passionate response to his daring rescue amidst Vendetta’s jaw-dropping set pieces, Leon could clearly carry any future RE tales should Capcom decide to hand him the reins again.

Theorizing on His Notable Absence from RE 7 and Village

Considering gamers’ hunger for more Agent Kennedy following Vendetta, speculation ran predictably rampant regarding his absence from 2017’s Resident Evil 7 and 2021’s massively popular Resident Evil Village.

While some fans took a pessimistic stance that Capcom sidelined him from newer ensemble casts, others advance intriguing theories:

• Given RE7’s confined plantation setting, perhaps Leon was tasked overseas thwarting biohazards more expansive in scope

• RE Village villain Mother Miranda’s shape-shifting abilities could be tied to secret human experiments Leon may have encountered in past missions

• Leon could secretly be monitoring Ethan from behind the scenes in Village, calling in Chris Redfield’s fatal raid using intel on the mysterious Mold’s weaknesses

Personally, based on story details emerging about Chris Redfield‘s activities leading up to RE Village, I believe Leon was likely assigned to infiltrate and gather intelligence on the shadowy Connections group Chris battles in RE5 and 6. This rogue syndicate of bioterror profiteers still poses major global threats requiring investigation from elite agents like Kennedy.

While purely hypothetical, I think it perfectly logical in canon for Leon’s behind-the-scenes efforts with Ada Wong against key adversaries to fill the narrative gap between Vendetta and whatever upcoming confrontation the newly-unhinged Chris Redfield may force next.

Will RE4 Remake Shed Light on Leon’s Past Exploits?

Perhaps no mystery has sparked more fan intrigue than clues pointing to alterations for Leon’s foundational mission protecting Ashley Graham amidst RE4 Remake’s 2023 return trip to an infected Spanish countryside.

Tight-lipped developers promise expanded drama and dialogue as well as potential cameos from other protagonists. Might Ada or Krauser emerge earlier on Leon’s European journey? Could previously unseen crises arise testing his cutthroat survival skills or bitter history dealing with Umbrella’s viral legacy?

While retaining the fourth game’s exhilarating mix of camp and carnage, these cryptic creative decisions could indicate some added emotional depth or moral ambiguity for Leon’s psyche in RE4 Remake. His relatively obscure backstory before joining government service offers writers huge latitude to hone the steel behind those sharp one-liners.

Will fresh trauma reveal new facets of our quick-witted, boulder-punching champion? Countless shippers’ fanfic fantasies pairing Leon with another classic heroine may even manifest a love interest to balance Leon’s brooding machismo.

Or perhaps Wesker clones, gatling-gun or rocket launcher-wielding migits, or a Del Lago the size of Godzilla constitute the dev team’s only radical changes. Regardless, this diehard Resident Evil stan eagerly awaits whatever astounding upgrades emerge from Leon’s 4K graphical glow-up!

The Future Still Holds Hope for Game’s Gutsiest Gunslinger

Like his video game contemporaries Mario or Sonic, Leon stands out as a mascot representing Resident Evil’s pinnacle. But rather than cartoon puffballs bouncing through colorful magic kingdoms, Leon‘s gritty crusades cutting through Umbrella’s living nightmares perfectly channel Resident Evil’s provocative recipe blending gruesome horror, cinematic action, hammy melodrama, and cutting social commentary.

And at that bloody nexus of zombies, bastardized science fiction, and government conspiracy thrives Agent Kennedy: the cynical pragmatist fighting for hope in hell, ever dashing towards some new explosive spectacle while unleashing cheesy rejoinders…and hopefully rocking his fan-adored R.P.D. uniform.

So while Leon’s immediate fate remains obscured in viral fog, his storied legacy all but guarantees further appearances – especially as bioengineering technologies and ethically ambiguous experiments continue threatening global stability in reality as in Resident Evil lore. Yet no matter what viral surprises Capcom cooks up next, Leon Kennedy will stand ready with quips locked and really big guns loaded!