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While some of these theories are outlandish and unlikely, there are a select few that could feasibly come true. From guest appearances of characters to entire playable campaigns, these are some of the more believable and grounded theories surrounding Resident Evil Village, which is less than a month away from release.
10 Ethan Winters Will Die
This theory has been floating around since Resident Evil Village was first announced on June 11, 2020. At the beginning of the announcement trailer the words, “His story comes to a close” play across the screen. This statement was among the most controversial of the early pieces of information fans gleaned about the game.
Resident Evil Village brings players into the shoes of Resident Evil 7 protagonist Ethan Winters once more. Ethan wasn’t particularly popular with fans in the previous game, and many assumed that the trailer was hinting at Ethan’s eventual death in Resident Evil Village.
9 Chris Redfield Will Die
When fans read the words, “His story comes to a close” many thought that this could be Chris Redfield’s final appearance in a Resident Evil title that isn’t a remake or spinoff. The character has been a legendary hero and flagship character for the series since its inception in 1996.
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It would certainly be a bold move for Capcom to kill off their most recognizable character. Chris Redfield has survived countless nightmares across the series and has proven himself as a true hero. Yet, he takes a much more sinister stance in the trailers for Resident Evil Village and this possible turn of character could lead to his end.
8 Albert Wesker Will Tie Into The Story
Albert Wesker is the most beloved villain of the franchise despite not appearing in it since he was killed off in Resident Evil 5. Though many fans want to see him return somehow, they’d be better off waiting for a remake or remaster than hoping he comes back in Village. That said, there are still theories surrounding Wesker’s possible involvement with the village itself.
Fans who played Resident Evil 6 will know that Albert Wesker actually had a son. Players were introduced to Jake Muller in Resident Evil 6 and eventually discovered that he was the son of the infamous Albert Wesker. Though many saw Jake Muller as forced fan service and not a true replacement for Wesker, Muller’s story could somehow tie into the setting of Resident Evil Village. Wesker conceived Muller with an unnamed woman in the far eastern European country of Edonia. Many fans want to believe that Wesker’s time in Europe will somehow be mentioned or affect the story of Village.
7 Jill Valentine Will Finally Return
Fans have waited long and hard for flagship female character Jill Valentine to return to a mainline Resident Evil title. Though she was redesigned in the RE Engine in Resident Evil 3 Remake, fans want Valentine to appear again in a new game.
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Jill and Chris have always been partners and the two have historically done anything and everything for each other. They are arguably the closest characters in the entire franchise and fans were incensed that Jill wasn’t in Resident Evil 6, which was seemingly intent on bringing the entire main cast back together. Because Jill and Chris are so closely tied together in the lore, many fans are hopeful to see Jill return in Village, possibly saving Chris from going down a dark path of destruction.
6 Oswell E. Spencer & Umbrella In The Village
Multiple trailers have already shown the Umbrella logo somewhere in the world of Resident Evil Village. Umbrella was an international corporation with some of its most important research being done originally in Raccoon City. There were European branches of the villainous pharmaceutical company as well, with many being located in Russia.
Oswell Spencer, James Marcus, and Edward Ashford were the original founders of Umbrella in the late 1960s. The titular village of Resident Evil Village appears to be much older than this, yet it still holds the symbols of Umbrella. Fans think that Spencer and Umbrella may have a larger impact on the story of Village and some think that Red Umbrella has once again been revived.
5 There Will Be Two Playable Campaigns
The Resident Evil franchise is no stranger to giving its players freedom with multiple playable characters, campaigns, and branching stories. Players could select between Jill and Chris in the original Resident Evil, Leon and Claire in Resident Evil 2, and even unlocked Ada’s campaigns in Resident Evil 4. Resident Evil 6 thrived on multiple campaigns showcasing different characters and Resident Evil 7 offered DLC that allowed fans to play as Chris Redfield.
As such, many fans believe that Resident Evil Village will offer more than just Ethan’s story. Perhaps players will be able to play as Chirs once again and see the story from his eyes. It has been highly hinted that players will take control of a villager named Emily through parts of the story, and she will perhaps have her own DLC or playable campaign alongside Ethan. Either way, fans are certain that Village will have a lot to offer with playable characters and stories.
4 The Game Will Feature Open World Sections
Resident Evil has traditionally focused on claustrophobic spaces and feelings of isolation to help create fear. The mansion of Resident Evil is a perfect example of this. Feeling trapped and cut off in a tight space with the walking dead is certainly one way to make players feel uncomfortable, but Resident Evil Village seems to be taking a much different approach to creating horror through setting.
Trailers for the game have shown large forests, caves, and snowy mountains. Though the village still seems to be the primary setting alongside the castles and dungeons fans have seen, there seem to be a lot of hints towards more open sections of the game where objectives can be completed in different ways or in different orders. This would be a bit of a risk for the series, but it would certainly be a breath of fresh air and something new for players to go through. Resident Evil 4 is considered by many to be the best in the series, and it used many similar settings to what fans have seen across the trailers for Village so perhaps fans have a reason to be optimistic.
3 The Resident Evil 4 Merchant Will Make An Appearance
Of all the characters in Resident Evil 4, few would’ve thought that the game’s merchant would instantly become a fan favorite. Yet, the heavily armed enigmatic salesmen took a special place in the hearts of many Resident Evil fans. Unfortunately, little is know about the merchant and he hasn’t made an appearance in any game since Resident Evil 4.
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A new merchant will be making deals with Ethan in Resident Evil Village. He’s known as “The Duke” and takes on a much more stereotypical appearance for a greedy merchant-type character. He is a classic portly businessman complete with a suit and hat. Fans obviously wanted the old merchant back, and some still think that the old cloaked merchant from the fourth game will somehow make an appearance or at the very least be alluded to.
2 Chris Redfield Won’t Actually Be A Villain
It’s hard not to see Chris as a bad guy after he kills Mia Winters in cold blood and kidnaps Ethan and Mia’s daughter. His intentions are unclear and his actions are completely out of character. Though Chris has done wrong in the past, he has always found a way to right himself. He is the flagship hero of Resident Evil, so seeing him portrayed as a villain has fans upset.
As a result, many of these upset fans are trying to justify how Chris isn’t actually evil. Some are citing that everything could be a hallucination or that Capcom is intentionally leaving out important information. Others just simply refuse to believe that the strongest hero in the series could so quickly become a villain.
1 Rosemary Winters Will Be The Final Boss
Ethan and Mia’s daughter Rosemary is obviously a key character to the game. Though she is only an infant in the scenes fans have seen her in, many believe that she will be a critical part of the story. Some are even theorizing that Rosemary could start out as a baby but end up as an endgame boss!
It doesn’t seem completely out of the question either. Both Mia and Ethan were exposed to the Mold infection in Resident Evil 7. Ethan never receives his dose of the cure in the events of Resident Evil 7 though it is implied that he is cured under the care of Blue Umbrella and Chirs Redfield. Yet, their daughter could very well have parts of the infection in her very genome, making her a potentially dangerous bioweapon.
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