Ethan Winters' death marks a rare permanent shift for Resident Evil

Polygon reports that Resident Evil Village reveals protagonist Ethan Winters is permanently dead, a development presented at the game's ending where he confronts Mother Miranda and learns the truth about his condition.

The article contrasts this with the series' usual treatment of death, noting that previous Resident Evil entries let characters survive horrific injuries through healing items and gameplay mechanics, so death often functions as shocking spectacle rather than finality. Village ties this difference back to Resident Evil 7: Ethan was killed in Dulvey by Jack Baker and later reanimated when mold connected to Eveline and the Bakers animated his corpse.

Because the mold kept Ethan moving—allowing him to live, father a child and appear unaware that his wife was not who she seemed—the outlet frames the reveal as a move toward psychological horror rather than the franchise's typical shock-driven gore. The piece argues this is notable because Capcom effectively killed one of its protagonists and made that death permanent.

The article concludes that Ethan's permanent death represents a dramatic departure for the series and a new storytelling direction for Capcom, marking a first for Resident Evil in how it treats character mortality.

Key Topics

Culture, Ethan Winters, Capcom, Resident Evil Village, Jack Baker, Psychological Horror