Why Resident Evil Requiem's Silver Fox Leon Owes Everything to Final Fantasy 15
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Following the viral success of the mature Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem, industry observers note how Final Fantasy 15 pioneered the beloved aging protagonist trope a decade earlier.
The internet is currently having a collective moment over Leon S. Kennedy. Since the February release of Resident Evil Requiem, the returning hero has dominated social media feeds with fan edits, memes, and compilation videos celebrating his forty-something silver fox aesthetic. Even official accounts from console giants like Xbox and Nintendo have leaned into the hype. It turns out that aging up video game protagonists into seasoned, rugged hunks is a winning formula for community engagement and viral content.
Long before Leon made internet culture swoon with his mature look, Square Enix was already playing the long game with character aging. As pointed out in a recent report by Polygon, 2016's Final Fantasy 15 paved the exact same road. That game famously followed Prince Noctis and his crew on a final road trip before world-ending catastrophe struck their kingdom. When the story jumped forward years later, players watched Noctis and his loyal companions undergo massive chronological glow-ups, trading their youthful boy band styling for rugged, battle-worn stubble and mature features.
Gaming history is full of character redesigns, but leaning into the silver fox era creates a unique bond with players who have grown up alongside these franchises. When developers let iconic heroes age in real time, it reflects the passage of years for the community itself. As Resident Evil Requiem continues to dominate streaming platforms and social feeds, it is clear that developers understand the undeniable appeal of a seasoned protagonist who wears his years well.
Tags: Resident Evil Requiem, Final Fantasy 15, Leon S. Kennedy, Gaming Culture, Capcom
Original article: Polygon