Sequels are supposed to be a direct continuation, right? Well, if you ask Dusk Golem, that isn’t always the case. Capcom is defying expectations with the nine mainline Resident Evil installment, with the credible leaker claiming that Resident Evil 9 will serve as the culmination of the “Winter trilogy,” which started with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, which came out in 2017. But, while it will tie loose ends, it won’t serve as a direct sequel to the pair of games that introduced us to Ethan Winters and brought back a familiar face in Chris Redfield.
Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time that the same insider mentioned the same information. Even before Village came out, Dusk Golem was insistent that the next entry won’t serve as a direct sequel.
This all but confirms that players won’t be playing as the boulder-punching older Redfield, which, as per the climax of Village, had a bone to pick with the European headquarters of the BSAA.
The anticipation for Resident Evil 9 isn’t exclusive to its storyline. According to the leaks, Resident Evil 9 is the franchise’s most ambitious entry to date. With the longest development time and the biggest budget of any Resident Evil game, it appears that Capcom is pulling out all the stops.
Having been in development since 2018, RE9 could mirror the success of the remake of Resident Evil 4, which is widely considered one of the best remakes in gaming history.
But what does this mean for the content and setting of Resident Evil 9? Leaks suggest a western setting, presumably an abandoned town. This would mark a departure from the European village setting of its predecessors, offering new environments such as caves, a river, a small town, and a camping site.
The narrative implications are equally intriguing. The end of the Winters family saga, particularly Ethan Winters, has had many speculating about where the narrative will take the series, especially after the Shadows of Rose DLC.
If Resident Evil 9 isn’t a direct sequel, it’s possible that it won’t bring back Chris and Rose in a larger capacity – or at the very least, not yet.
While this is disappointing, making Resident Evil 9 out to be a soft reboot, much like RE7, allows Capcom to retain narrative coherence while also injecting fresh elements into the gameplay and story. RE7 reinvigorated the franchise by returning to its survival horror roots after a period of action-centric titles, introducing fans to a seemingly ordinary guy in Ethan Winters. With over 146 million units sold following the success of Village and RE4, Capcom has found a formula that resonates with fans.
The promise of a concluding arc while simultaneously ushering in a new era for the franchise has fans excited for what’s coming. Capcom’s strategic planning, evident in the simultaneous development of RE8 and RE9, indicates a deliberate effort to create a cohesive narrative experience even if they’re not directly connected. This, coupled with the investment in development time and budget, sets Resident Evil 9 up to be a pivotal entry in the series.
Unfortunately, the rumored 2025 release date of Resident Evil 9 all but guarantees that it won’t be the first game to use the next-gen RE Engine, unlike its predecessor.
Speaking of Resident Evil, someone tell Capcom that Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya are available. With Resident Evil 5 and 6 primed for remakes ahead of Resident Evil 9, it could use some help. Finally, if you recently upgraded to the latest iPhone, you might want to check out Resident Evil Village.
