Key Highlights:
- A March 2023 leak identified Leon, Luis, Krauser, HUNK, Ada Wong and Albert Wesker as Mercenaries characters.
- Leon, Luis, Krauser and HUNK were available when The Mercenaries launched on 7 April 2023.
- Ada and Wesker were officially added in September 2023, while leaked alternate outfits for Leon and Ada also appeared in the finished mode.
Capcom confirmed that The Mercenaries would arrive as free DLC for Resident Evil 4 Remake on 7 April 2023, but leaked game data revealed considerably more about the mode before its release.
The March 2023 leak pointed to six playable characters: Leon S. Kennedy, Luis Serra, Jack Krauser, HUNK, Ada Wong and Albert Wesker. It also revealed alternate versions of Leon in his pinstripe outfit and Ada in her red dress.
At the time, Capcom had only officially announced the release date for The Mercenaries. The leaked roster therefore contained information about characters that would not become playable until months later.
What the Mercenaries Leak Revealed
The leaked roster contained:
- Leon S. Kennedy
- Luis Serra
- Jack Krauser
- HUNK
- Ada Wong
- Albert Wesker
- Leon in his pinstripe outfit
- Ada in her red dress
The information was particularly notable for Luis, who was not playable in The Mercenaries in the original Resident Evil 4.
Each character in the remake uses a distinct weapon loadout and Mayhem Mode ability. The mode challenges players to defeat enemies, maintain combos and extend the remaining time to build the highest possible score.
Which Leaked Characters Were Eventually Added?
The Mercenaries launched on 7 April 2023 with Leon, Luis, Krauser and HUNK as its playable roster. The same update also introduced paid Weapon Exclusive Upgrade Tickets, allowing players to unlock a weapon’s exclusive upgrade without first reaching its normal upgrade requirements.
Ada Wong and Albert Wesker were absent from the initial release despite appearing in the leaked data.
Capcom later confirmed both characters for a free Mercenaries update released on 21 September 2023 alongside the Separate Ways expansion. The update also added Leon (Pinstripe) and Ada (Dress), meaning the characters and alternate outfits identified before the mode’s original launch ultimately appeared in the finished game.
The final roster consists of Leon, Leon (Pinstripe), Luis, Krauser, HUNK, Ada, Ada (Dress) and Wesker.
