Resident Evil Village has become one of the most recognizable entries in the history of Capcom's legendary survival horror franchise, largely due to the way it managed to combine new concepts and characters with the classic darkness of the series. Having maintained its relevancy two years after its release, Resident Evil Village has proven that its series is capable of a bright future outside of highly successful remakes. Following the conclusion of Village’s narrative, however, Capcom has a major challenge ahead when it comes to crafting the new scenario for Resident Evil 9.
With Village seeming to have fully concluded the Ethan Winters arc started with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, the next game in the series is in an ambiguous position. There have been over 20 Resident Evil titles since its inception in 1996, and the disparate tones throughout the franchise offer multiple possibilities as to how the next game can proceed. In a series that now features both several high-profile modern remakes of its classic titles and a seemingly expanding focus on multiplayer alongside its core survival horror experience, Capcom needs to carefully consider where it is actually taking the ninth entry.
Resident Evil 7 and Village Completely Changed the Series' Tone
The 2017 reboot that was Biohazard essentially redeemed the entire franchise following the mixed reception to 2012's Resident Evil 6. An action-centric experience split between multiple protagonists that has been criticized for ultimately lacking focus, Resident Evil 6's poor reputation was a shock to Capcom's system that allowed it to recalibrate.
It is only logical that when the seventh entry proceeded to completely tear down the action focus that had previously defined the series, it became a massive success that redefined Resident Evil as a whole. Following the change in style that Village underwent, however, it seems that Capcom may be leaving its new world behind in favor of returning characters.
The ending of Village and its subsequent DLC, Shadows of Rose, painted a picture of Ethan Winters’ daughter Rose taking up his mantle for the next game, but this doesn’t actually seem to be the case. In an official statement prior to the DLC’s release, Capcom confirmed that it would finally conclude the Winters family saga once and for all. Despite Rose’s unique gameplay involving her Mold-based powers showing the series’ potential to adopt a new style that Village underwent, though, it seems that Capcom may be leaving its new world behind in favor of returning characters.
Resident Evil 9 is Likely to Focus on Legacy Characters
Rumors have indicated that Chris Redfield could be the protagonist of the upcoming title, but Resident Evil 9 could end up bringing even more fan favorites of the series into the new, darker world that Biohazard introduced. With the final ending of Village leaving few places to go for its cast, its follow-up is Capcom’s perfect opportunity to bring characters like Jill Valentine and Claire Redfield back into the fold after years of absence.
As the plot regarding the ominous BSAA continues to unravel in the next game, it seems most probable that a brand-new threat is being cooked up following the complete takedown of Miranda’s twisted operation in Village. While the return of classic characters is sure to please longtime fans of the series, the shift in Resident Evil’s style has also created a concerning mirror to the past of the franchise. The last time the series followed up a more action-oriented title with the return of beloved faces, it arguably hits its all-time low point with Resident Evil 6.
In the modern gaming landscape characterized by Capcom’s remakes of its early survival horror darlings, however, there is much more hope for the future. With the hindsight of the series’ past lack of focus, Resident Evil 9 has the potential to mesh the new world of Village with the recaptured iconic history of titles like the Resident Evil 4 remake if it can manage to find a strong new focus.
Resident Evil Village is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
