The state of the Resident Evil franchise is a huge mystery at the moment, as eager fans await news about what's in store for the ninth mainline entry in the series. Resident Evil has become one of the most notable horror franchises in the industry, and much of that success has been ensured by the iconic characters Capcom has brought to life through the years.
Although the most recent entries in the series, RE7 and Village, introduced a new cast in the form of the Winters family, rumors and leaks about the mysterious RE9 have suggested the return of some familiar faces. While leaks should be met with speculation until proven true, it's exciting to think about the potential return of Resident Evil heavy-hitters Jill Valentine and Leon S. Kennedy. However, there is also the possibility that Capcom may be looking to retire some veteran characters in the future. If this is the case, then putting the power in players' hands and allowing them to choose a character's fate could be an exciting change of form.
Resident Evil Should Give a Follow-Up on One of Its Best Characters
The Resident Evil series is home to countless iconic characters, but there's one recurring protagonist who deserves another chance in the spotlight.
Resident Evil May Want to Experiment With Multiple Endings
Since the beginning of the Resident Evil franchise, the journeys and outcomes of each hero and villain have been largely story-driven. Linear narratives in games are great, but if Capcom wanted to shake things up for the series, then embracing the choice of players could be a fascinating way forward. As far as it's known, there are no plans for Capcom to retire franchise protagonists, but if it wanted to, letting players have a decision about potential fates may prove to be a more satisfying approach.
Some of Resident Evil's Most Iconic Characters
- Leon S. Kennedy
- Chris Redfield
- Jill Valentine
- Claire Redfield
- Ada Wong
Resident Evil has featured a variety of strong characters, but the five listed above are the faces that have become the most beloved by many players. If future games wanted to wrap up some of these stories, Capcom could allow fans to make in-game choices that determine their outcomes. Because these characters have played such major roles, it could be hard to give them a fully satisfying send-off, so giving players the ability to have a say in potential end-game scenarios may be a strong way to approach such difficult decisions.
Rumors have suggested that RE0 and Code Veronica may get a remake.
Multiple Endings Isn't a Perfect Strategy
While allowing fans to play around with the fates of Resident Evil's characters could be exciting, there are also some downsides to such a path. If Capcom were to go this route, there would be the issue of major characters not having official canon endings. Not having a connected ending for the fan-base to share may leave some players feeling unsatisfied. On the other hand, though, risking a finite canon ending that is potentially unsatisfying for everyone would be just as big of a disappointment, if not more so.
Linear narratives in games are great, but if Capcom wanted to shake things up for the series, then embracing the choice of players could be a fascinating way forward.
Resident Evil 9 is Waiting in the Wings
As the days pass, many fans of the franchise are awaiting an update on the state of RE9. In the summer of 2024, Capcom confirmed that the next chapter was officially in development, but there has yet to be fresh news on the project. With Village now closing in on being four years old, it has been a long time between mainline releases, but 2025 will hopefully bring some long-awaited good news to fans.
RE9 is being led by RE7 director Koshi Nakanishi.
Once the game is finally revealed, it will be exciting to see if the leaks suggesting Jill and Leon are coming back are true. The stories of these characters may continue for years down the road, but if Capcom ever wanted to bring an end to some of their stories, letting players have a say in how that happens may be the best choice.
