Highlights
- Rose's superhuman abilities could signal a new direction for Resident Evil, introducing more superpowered characters in future games.
- The franchise, known for survival horror, may shift back toward action if more superpowers like Rose's feature in upcoming titles.
- Uncertainty surrounds Resident Evil 9, with speculation on Chris Redfield's role in the next installment, and it will be interesting to see if any superpowered playable characters appear.
The future of the Resident Evil series currently stands as a mystery, but the introduction of Ethan and Mia's daughter Rose could be signaling a change for the long-running franchise. With nearly 30 years worth of story and lore, Resident Evil may be headed in an all-new direction.
Since the beginning of the franchise, Resident Evil games have told some compelling and action-packed survival horror stories. There have been some great protagonists in Resident Evil, and the franchise introducing new husband and wife duo Ethan and Mia Winters was an exciting change. The story of this couple in Resident Evil 7 and Village eventually led to the introduction of their daughter, Rose. Due to Ethan and Mia's exposure to the mold E series, Rose was born with superhuman abilities, which were explored in the DLC Shadows of Rose. Going forward, more superpowered characters could be on the table, and embracing them would have a huge impact on the franchise.
Resident Evil 9 Featuring Another Everyman Protagonist Would Have One Major Downside
Resident Evil 9 could benefit from featuring another relatable protagonist like Ethan Winters, but this would come with one notable risk.
Rose Could Be Hinting At Resident Evil's Future
Rose gaining superhuman abilities is a game changer for the Resident Evil franchise. There have been plenty of highly skilled protagonists throughout the games, but Rose is the first time the series has dabbled with superpowers. It's currently unclear if the next Resident Evil will feature Rose, but her abilities open up the possibility for more characters like her to make an appearance, and this could change the entire energy of the series going forward.
Introducing Powers To Resident Evil Could Change Everything
Despite there being plenty of times when Resident Evil has drifted more into action than horror, survival horror is at the true heart of the franchise. Rose could be just one of many people who have been given powers the way that she has, and these people could potentially play major roles in upcoming games. The direction the franchise is set to take is completely unknown at this point, but a storyline involving Umbrella or the BSAA researching these superhumans is not out of the question.
If this is the case, then the Resident Evil franchise would be facing one of its biggest shake-ups yet. Resident Evil 7 and Village took the series back to its survival horror roots, but the addition of superpowers makes the possibility of the next game heavily focusing on survival horror less likely. Resident Evil sometimes has a reputation for leaving some plot points unresolved, but Rose's abilities are such a huge change for the series that they're impossible to ignore. Including Rose and other potential superhuman characters in future games could be lining Resident Evil 9 up for more action-focused gameplay.
The Mystery Of Resident Evil 9
At this point, there is no knowledge of where Resident Evil will go next following the wild events of Village. There has been some speculation that Chris Redfield will be starring in Resident Evil 9, and since it has been heavily implied that he now oversees Rose as some sort of guardian, it's highly likely that the series will dabble in more action. Seeing the dynamic between Chris and Rose would be compelling, and bringing more superhumans into the fold would give Resident Evil no choice but to embrace action elements.
While the wait for news about Resident Evil 9 continues, it's exciting to imagine where Capcom will take such an iconic series next. The possibility of Resident Evil exploring more superhumans is an exciting thought, but it hopefully won't cause the franchise to steer too far away from what made the series so popular in the first place.
