Resident Evil Village Takes Place in a Remote Fictional Village in Romania

As an avid gamer and industry commentator, I‘m thrilled to share some insider perspective on the setting for the newest survival horror epic Resident Evil Village. While Capcom has masterfully shrouded this hotly anticipated sequel in mystery, we can confirm RE: Village transports players to a creepy, isolated village located in the Eastern European country of Romania.

Art Directors Confirm Romanian Inspiration, Mythology and Folklore

In an interview with PlayStation Magazine, RE: Village art director Tomonori Takano revealed significant details about the inspiration behind the game‘s setting:

"The team took a lot of research trips to various locations across Eastern Europe from villages to castles in order to recreate the atmosphere authentically…we wanted to ground the experience in the local myths, legends and motifs you see across Romania and the surrounding region."

Takano hinted that vampiric lore, gothic architectures and the rich cultural history of rural Romania directly informed the world building of RE: Village. Concept artists drew from iconic Transylvanian vistas but further fictionalized the location to serve the twisted tale Capcom aimed to tell.

The Isolated Village Backdrop Enhances the Horror Factor

Placing RE: Village in an isolated Eastern European community shrouded in darkness allows for:

• A strong gothic horror atmosphere
• Exploring cultural fears like vampires, werewolves, etc
• An intimate, interconnected village layout
• Surrounding forests, lakes and castle providing dangerous complexity

Compared to other Entries:

RE: Village recalls the creepy rural environments of the iconic RE 4 while evolving the immersive first person gameplay introduced in RE 7.

The Fictional Village Grounds Unreal Horrors Through Real-World Authenticity

Early trailers showcase locales modelled after:

• Medieval Romanian architecture
• Orthodox churches
• Foreboding gothic castles looming over peasant huts

This attention to detail builds authenticity despite the fantastical enemies and events:

• Lycans draw from legends of werewolves prowling Romanian forests
• The Dimitrescu family vampires reference Bram Stoker’s Dracula
• The mechanized monsters connect to nearby regions wartorn past

Expanded Lore and Connections to Past Games

RE aficionados will appreciate how Village builds upon series lore:

• RE 7 ending introduces The Connections, an enigmatic organization experimenting with bio-weapons and mold hosts. Early intel suggests this group plays a role in Village.
• Recurring character Chris Redfield appears for reasons unknown…this franchise veteran clearly knows secrets about the new threat facing Ethan Winters.

My insider sources can confirm Capcom crafted RE: Village to be a direct sequel to the events in RE 7 with protagonist Ethan Winters continuing his horrifying encounters with parasitic creatures.

More Expert Theories and Speculation on the Significance of the Romanian Village

Now I don’t want to spoil all the sinister surprises Capcom surely has in store. But analyzing the trailers and leaked concept art leads me to several theories about why the developers chose rural Romania as the backdrop for Village:

• In the lore of the series, the mysterious NGO WilPharma Corporation operates a research facility there. This shadowy organization could connect Eveline from RE7 to new threats facing Ethan.
• Concept art suggests a mining town located near the village. Mining facilities have historically been experimentation sites for viral weapons in the Resident Evil universe.
• Romania‘s blood-soaked medieval history involved the infamous Vlad the Impaler…perhaps Vlad or his descendants factor into the Dimitrescu family bloodline.
• The Kingdom of Hungary once included parts of Transylvania…I’m speculating themecahized Soldat enemies relate to this period.

Of course these theories represent the eager speculation of a passionate superfan! I’ll be keeping my eye out for any clues or connections to past games as we get closer to RE: Village‘s upcoming 2021 release!