Does Resident Evil 7 Take Place After Resident Evil 6?
Yes, Resident Evil 7 biohazard (RE7) is confirmed to take place after the events of Resident Evil 6 in the series‘ timeline. While RE7 marks a shift away from recent games with its first-person view and return to survival horror roots, it still continues the overarching Resident Evil story.
Where RE7 Fits in the Timeline
According to the official Resident Evil 7 site, the game is set after RE6 in 2017 and takes place in a rural plantation estate in Dulvey, Louisiana. The dates match up with the beginning VHS tape sequence being set in June 2017. So RE7 picks up the story several years after previous entries.
RE7 diverges from the more action-heavy RE5 and RE6 style to emphasize slower-paced exploration and tense horror just like early Resident Evil games. But it still exists in the same universe and advances the series narrative.
A New Protagonist: Ethan Winters
With RE7, the series introduces a new protagonist, Ethan Winters. He is an everyman character without special skills or agency affiliations. This represents a shift away from having long-time protagonists like Chris Redfield or Leon Kennedy at the forefront.
But Ethan still experiences events that tie back to the central Resident Evil story involving bioweapons and shady corporations. His story continues in the direct RE7 sequel, Resident Evil Village. So he seems destined to become a key character in future games as well.
Subtle Connections to the Larger Universe
While not overt, RE7 contains several references indicating it takes place in the larger Resident Evil universe:
- Old Umbrella logo seen on cases of medicine
- Note mentioning a woman named "G" – possibly Ada Wong
*Article referencing woman held in dossier – potentially Sherry Birkin
So the classic lore exists in the background, even if original characters don‘t appear on-screen.
What About Leon and Other Heroes?
Long-time Resident Evil protagonists like Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine do not appear in RE7. The voice actor for Leon in RE6 explained this is due to Capcom "scaling back" and resting some classic characters for now.
The focus shifts to Ethan‘s personal story rather than connecting directly back to old heroes‘ experiences. But that doesn‘t mean Leon, Chris, Jill, and others won‘t return in future games!
How RE7 Sets Up the Next Chapter
While RE7 stands on its own, unconnected fans can still follow and enjoy the creepy story. At the same time, it sets up future games like Resident Evil Village that continue plot threads and new characters established here.
Ethan must confront the threat of bioterrorism and shadowy groups once again in his continued struggles. So RE7 kickstarts the latest chapter in the Resident Evil saga by rebooting the style of gameplay and rotating in a compelling new protagonist to drive events forward.
