“What’s Umbrella up to this time?”
The silence surrounding Resident Evil 9 has been deafening. No teases, no trailers, no cryptic hints from Capcom at any of the major gaming showcases this year. Yet, leaks continue to seep out from the shadows, feeding the insatiable appetite of fans hungry for any glimpse into the future of the franchise. Enter the latest rumours, brought to us via Andy at Biohazard Declassified and meticulously dissected by JJ of Residence of Evil. The source? An alleged playtester claiming hands-on experience with early builds of the game during two separate sessions in Japan—April and September of this 2024.
As with all unverified information, scepticism is warranted. Capcom remains predictably tight-lipped, and the details, while tantalizing, fall firmly into spoiler territory. Proceed with caution.
The narrative is rumoured to take place four years after the events of Resident Evil Village’s main story, consciously sidestepping the Shadows of Rose epilogue. Our protagonists are none other than Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine, an iconic pairing tasked with investigating a remote island controlled by a company deeply entrenched in bioweapon development. This is no ordinary research facility; it’s the birthplace of mass-produced Eveline clones, the culmination of Miranda’s dark work with the Megamycete.
From here, things spiral into familiar yet uncharted territory. Both Leon and Jill reportedly succumb to Megamycete infection, a narrative device that plunges players into a psychological maelstrom of hallucinations and spectral voices. Eveline herself makes a ghostly return, her whispers echoing through the minds of our infected heroes.
The island serves as a grim tapestry of horror, with locations designed to unsettle and unnerve. Expect an abandoned hospital shrouded in decay, shadowy caves, desolate homes filled with forgotten echoes, and a temple whose ancient walls hide unspeakable horrors. These settings will house a new breed of enemies—evolved zombies described as sharing a sinister kinship with the Ganados of Resident Evil 4.
But these aren’t the only threats. Jill is relentlessly pursued by an entity known as the “Goat-Man,” an unkillable stalker in the vein of Nemesis or Mr. X, while Leon faces his own predator—an enigmatic figure who remains shrouded in mystery.
At the heart of the chaos is a new antagonist, Mr. Simon, who oversees the island’s bioweapon production. Blue Umbrella, the shadowy corporate entity that once positioned itself as a force for good, makes its return, though its true intentions remain as murky as ever.
Character design leans heavily on nostalgia while embracing subtle evolution. Jill’s aesthetic recalls her appearance in Lost in Nightmares, while Leon’s grizzled, hardened look channels the battle scars of Resident Evil: Damnation. Supporting roles are filled by series veterans Chris Redfield and Barry Burton, their voices providing crucial guidance via radio communications. They are the steady hands guiding players through this storm of madness, their presence felt even in their absence.
Gameplay mechanics seem to draw heavily from Resident Evil 4’s winning formula, blending survival horror with dynamic combat. Reports from the playtests describe Jill navigating an abandoned hospital teeming with mold-infected zombies wielding improvised weapons. Armed with series staples like a shotgun and pistol, she crafts her way through limited resources while evading the Goat-Man. Leon’s playtest focuses on exploration, his path winding through dense forests and crumbling beachside ruins, all while avoiding a malevolent witch who can dissolve into a swarm of flies.
These sequences hint at an evolution of the series’ core gameplay loop. Early whispers of open-world elements suggest players may experience greater freedom in navigating this nightmare, though how that meshes with Resident Evil’s traditionally linear structure remains to be seen.
Officially, Resident Evil 9 does not exist. Yet, these leaks offer a glimpse into what could be, painting a picture of a game that blends psychological terror with action-driven survival. Capcom’s silence only amplifies the anticipation. Will the rumours be substantiated with a reveal at The Game Awards? Only time will tell. For now, we wait, ever watchful.
Stay vigilant, horror fans. The truth, much like the infection, spreads in the dark.