Resident Evil isn't exactly known for the most cohesive or well-thought-out timeline, but there is still enough information to determine how each story fits together in a general way. When it comes to the characters themselves, many of them have been around since the early days, going on countless crazy adventures against the infected. Now that Resident Evil Requiem is finally here, fans get to step back into the shoes of one of the franchise's most popular protagonists: Leon Kennedy.

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He has been around the world in the most literal sense, and now, 30 years later, it seems there is still more in store for him in a place a bit too close to home. With that said, a lot of the other heroes are still kicking around somewhere. Some may be riding out retirement in the 2030s, and others may still be looking to fight back against whatever is left of Umbrella and any other evils hiding out of sight. Here's how old each of them at the time of Resident Evil Requiem's launch.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
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Chris Redfield

There Right From The Start

resident evil village chris redfield
  • First appearance: Resident Evil
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil Village
  • Age in 2030: 57 years old

Chris Redfield has stood at the center of the franchise’s bioterror conflicts since the very beginning. The former S.T.A.R.S. Operative became one of the founding members of the BSAA and a relentless force against global outbreaks throughout the 2000s, from the Spencer Mansion incident to international anti-bioweapon campaigns.

He quickly evolved from local police officer to hardened field commander and now stands as a battle-tested veteran who has some of the most combat experience in the entire franchise. Last seen in Village, and clearly still in fighting condition, only time will tell if he gets one last bout against the horrors, or if his time in the limelight has come to a close.

Ada Wong

Hiding In The Shadows

Ada in Resident Evil 4 (2005)
  • First appearance: Resident Evil 2
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil 6
  • Age in 2030: 56 years old

Ada Wong has always operated out of sight, balancing corporate espionage with ambiguous moral decisions that have made her a fan favorite ever since her introduction in Resident Evil 2. Appearing during the Raccoon City outbreak in 1998, she has consistently manipulated events from behind the scenes, often intersecting with Leon’s missions while pursuing her own objectives tied to bioweapon acquisition.

Claire, Leon, Rebecca
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Her most recent canonical appearance occurred in 2013 during the global C-virus crisis depicted in Resident Evil 6, though she was also given a fresh look in the RE4 remake, much to the joy of adoring fans. With Leon back at the forefront of the newest game, the chances of Ada being around are pretty high, as the two have crossed paths more than a few times since their initial, fateful encounter.

Rebecca Chambers

Before The Main Event

Billy and Rebecca in Resident Evil 0 (2002) Image via Capcom
  • First appearance: Resident Evil 0
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil: Death Island
  • Age in 2030: 50 years old

Rebecca Chambers began as the youngest S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team member during the 1998 mansion incident. A prodigious medic and scientist, she later transitioned into academic and research roles, contributing to anti-bioweapon efforts rather than direct combat assignments.

Rebecca returned to the spotlight in the animated film Resident Evil: Vendetta, set in 2014, where she played a critical role in vaccine development. Her transition from rookie survivor to seasoned scientist reflects the franchise’s broader shift toward global-scale biosecurity, and though her story may have mostly concluded, the door is always open for a return.

Claire Redfield

Fighting Her Own Battles

Claire Redfield in Resident Evil Revelations 2 (2015)
  • First appearance: Resident Evil 2
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil: Death Island
  • Age in 2030: 51 years old

Claire Redfield appeared during the Raccoon City outbreak while searching for her brother. Unlike Chris, her focus shifted toward humanitarian work, aiding victims of bioterrorism rather than leading large-scale military operations, as she was never exactly a soldier at heart, but just fell into the wrong set of circumstances.

The-Scariest-Resident-Evil-Games,-Ranked
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Later on, she was seen in games like Code: Veronica, fighting her own battles whilst still on the hunt for her brother, and then again in Revelations 2, where the action is far more oceanic than she may be used to. She represents a more human side of the franchise, one of the younger characters that could certainly find her way into at least one more entry in the future.

Jill Valentine

Leading The Charge

Resident Evil 3 remake Steam promo screenshot 4 Jill reloading a gun
  • First appearance: Resident Evil
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil: Death Island
  • Age in 2030: 56 years old

Jill Valentine’s legacy began alongside Chris in 1998. A master of lockpicking and tactical survival, she endured Raccoon City, Nemesis, and later coercion under Albert Wesker’s control, showing her resilience against the frankly unbelievable challenges she has had to overcome.

Born in 1974, Jill would be 56 years old in 2030, but despite the passage of time, her combat efficiency remains formidable, particularly given the slowed aging hinted at following Wesker’s experiments. She's a linchpin of the series and a central component to many of the stories, many of which simply wouldn't be the same without her.

Ethan Winters

A Hero Without A Face

Ethan Winters
  • First appearance: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil Village
  • Age in 2030: 46 years old

Ethan Winters joined the franchise as an everyman searching for his missing wife back in 2017. His ordeal in Louisiana revealed extraordinary regenerative abilities tied to the Mold, transforming him from a civilian into an unexpected bio-organic anomaly who had to go to hell and back to make it out alive.

Ethan’s story concluded in 2021's Resident Evil Village, where he sacrificed himself to protect his daughter and to take down the plague that had since taken over. His arc remains one of the franchise’s most personal tragedies, and his legacy continues beyond Requiem, with the Shadows of Rose DLC that explores his daughter's life after his passing.

Grace Ashcroft

Way Out Of Her Depth

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  • First appearance: Resident Evil Requiem
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil Requiem
  • Age in 2030: Unconfirmed (Late 20s, early 30s)

Grace Ashcroft is the new kid on the block and a welcome new addition to a long line of hardened heroes. Rather than being an officer, soldier, or scientist, Grace has no combat background whatsoever, other than being an FBI agent. Her sequences in RE9's promotional content show her to be much more vulnerable and afraid than many other characters in the series.

Her place in the wider story dates back to Resident Evil Outbreak and her mother, Alyssa, who played an important role in a smaller entry that many fans will have missed back in the day. Grace's actual age is a little hard to pin down, but based on the events in the timeline, she is still much younger than her counterpart in Requiem.

Leon Kennedy

Practically The Franchise Poster Child

How Long Each Resident Evil Game Takes to Beat Image via Capcom
  • First appearance: Resident Evil 2
  • Latest appearance: Resident Evil Requiem
  • Age in 2030: 53 years old

The king of zombies himself, Leon S. Kennedy, began as a rookie police officer on his first day in Raccoon City in 1998. Over the several decades since, he's become a high-ranking government agent specializing in high-risk biohazard operations. His missions have spanned rural Spain, Eastern Europe, and now back to the place where it all began.

His last game appearance was in RE6, but players got a taste of a more modern-looking Leon in the RE4 remake that updated his visuals, while keeping his charismatic flair. Once one of the franchise’s youngest heroes, Leon now stands as a much older veteran facing the weight of decades of biohazard warfare in a place that is all too familiar.

resident evil requiem tag page cover art
Survival Horror
Action
Adventure
Shooter
Systems
Released
February 27, 2026
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
Developer(s)
Capcom
Publisher(s)
Capcom
Resident Evil Requiem Psychological Horror New Ground

WHERE TO PLAY

Genre(s)
Survival Horror, Action, Adventure, Shooter