Originally published by Biohazard Declassified, the rumors described numerous aspects of Resident Evil 8, an as-yet-unannounced sequel to 2017’s Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
The original email leaks enumerate several features of the rumored Resident Evil 8, beginning with the return of Ethan Winters from Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and the same first-person perspective featured in that game.
While the rumors were poorly sourced, a fact Biohazard Declassified emphasized, their legitimacy got a shot in the arm Tuesday, when industry insider Nibel partially corroborated the leaks, even providing a likely source.
“It matches with stuff I’ve been hearing, which is why I went forward with it,” Nibel tweeted. “The info in the video is all coming from a playtest that Capcom had some time ago apparently.”
While a substantial departure from previous entries in the series—including a family right out of Texas Chain Saw Massacre—Resident Evil 7 ends with explicit connections to the larger world of Resident Evil, when Ethan is rescued by Chris Redfield and extracted in Umbrella Corporation helicopters. Additional leaks regarding Resident Evil 8 suggest the game will follow closely on the heels of that story, since Chris Redfield will also be returning.
But rather than a house full of fungus-infected creeps, RE8 will feature zombies—the classic Resident Evil enemy. More intriguing is the addition of werewolves, which haven’t previously appeared in the series. Could this suggest a more action-heavy focus, against fast and agile enemies? Finally, the leaks claim Resident Evil 8 will include a new type of “stalker” enemy—something Capcom has a lot of experience with after Mr. X in the Resident Evil 2 remake and the upcoming Resident Evil 3’s Nemesis.
The leaks referenced in the email even describe the game’s alleged opening: “we will see ourselves starting out in a village and gradually making our way into a castle-like environment. It will be snowy, rural and mountainous; possibly a European setting.”
For now, all of this is unconfirmed, especially since the existence of Resident Evil 8 itself has yet to be announced. It is Capcom’s policy not to comment on rumors or speculation.
The next game coming in the series is a remake of Resident Evil 3, out for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on April 3.
