Summary
- Resident Evil 9 is rumored to be set in Southeast Asia, a first for the series.
- According to leaker Dusk Golem, it will be a fictional rural town on an island inspired by Singapore.
- A Singapore setting would be a cool way to freshen Resident Evil up and showcase a different culture.
The forms of the ruthless Umbrella corporation, and plenty of horrific enemies, there's a lot of room to do different things within that overarching lore. It's easy to jump into any mainline game and get a complete experience of its own, and the unique flavor provided by each can satisfy many different preferences.
Keeping with this idea, there's been a good bit of setting-hopping in the series to date. From the iconic Midwestern locale of Raccoon City in the original game to the Eastern European flair of Resident Evil Village, fear has been found in many different corners of the globe. Fixing the unique lens of Resident Evil on new cultural inspirations is always interesting, even ing for some arguable missteps in the past, and the rumored Resident Evil 9 is purportedly moving to a completely fresh one.
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Resident Evil 9 Might Be Set In Southeast Asia
A Rumor Points To A Location Inspired By Singapore
As noted in a Reddit post from No1PiggyOnTheBlock, leaker Dusk Golem responded to a query on X (formerly Twitter) to allege that Resident Evil 9 will shift to a Southeast Asian setting. Like previous fictionalized settings in the franchise, Resident Evil 9 will reportedly use its own fictitious town on an island modeled after Singapore. It's a far cry from anything the series has explored before, as Resident Evil 6's dip into China remains the only major exploration of an Asian setting that the games have yet offered.
Like all rumors, this one shouldn't be taken as hard fact, and Dusk Golem has a somewhat mixed track record overall. The leaker's 2021 claims of a third Resident Evil Revelations game called Outrage (still accessible on Dusk Golem's ) never panned out, and some information that they spread regarding Resident Evil Village similarly turned out to be mistaken. A 50/50 community reliability ranking on Reddit points to the fact that Dusk Golem hasn't always been wrong, however, so it's worth considering as a legitimate possibility.
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Singapore Would Be A Cool Resident Evil Setting
Southeast Asia Isn't Always Represented In Games
A Singapore-inspired setting for Resident Evil 9 could be a cool addition to the series, as games that explore Southeast Asia are generally few and far between. 2022's A Space for the Unbound stood out as an affecting look at the life of teenagers in Indonesia, and although Resident Evil 9 may not be as carefully intimate of a game, it could boast a similar appeal of showcasing a culture that doesn't get a major spotlight in video gaming.
The largest AAA game studio in Southeast Asia can be found in Singapore thanks to Ubisoft's studio located there, which has assisted on a number of Assassin's Creed games and developed Skull and Bones.
There's nothing wrong with Resident Evil revisiting tried and true settings, but after a succession of remakes, it's nice to see that the next game may be looking elsewhere. It's also a bit surprising that the series is turning to Singapore before ever visiting Japan, considering that the games come out of a Japanese studio. The company might just like exploring other avenues when it comes to Resident Evil and leaving the closer-to-home approach to titles like the Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, but there's also the possibility that Resident Evil will have its homecoming in the future.
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It shouldn't be too long now before official news clarifies what players can expect from Resident Evil 9, although gratification in that regard might not be immediate. The latest update indicates a possible internal delay for Resident Evil 9 that could push the game back a bit, information once again provided by Dusk Golem. Regardless of what the future of Resident Evil ends up looking like, it's exciting to consider different places that the series could go, and a setting inspired by Singapore would definitely be an interesting option.
Sources: No1PiggyOnTheBlock/Reddit, Dusk Golem/X (1, 2)
Resident Evil 9 is an release and the next installment in the mainline Resident Evil franchise. Not much is known about the title at the moment or who will be the main protagonist.
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Platform(s)
