Ethan Winters is the protagonist of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and its upcoming sequel Resident Evil Village. Capcom shook things up with RE7 marking the franchise's transition from its trademark third-person experience to a first-person POV. Although fans were hesitant, RE7 became the best-selling game in the series, proving the survival horror franchise was due for a little change.
When Ethan was introduced in RE7, the game took great lengths to conceal his face. Considering the first-person perspective, it's likely Capcom wanted to amp up the immersive experience, encouraging players to become Ethan, not just see him. However, that didn't stop modders from uncovering his character model not long after the game's debut.
The History of Ethan Winters
Unlike other Resident Evil characters, little is known about Ethan Winter's life before the events of RE7. His wife, Mia Winters, sent him a video in 2014 detailing her new babysitting gig, the last contact he has with her before she goes missing. RE7 picks up in 2017 when Ethan receives a distressing email from his wife that reveals she's been "nannying" in Dulvey, Louisiana. Despite her ominous warning to "stay away," Ethan drops everything to track down Mia, who'd been presumed dead.
Ethan arrives at the "Dulvey Haunted House," which he discovers was formerly owned by the Baker family until their disappearance the same year as his wife's. As the game continues, the new protagonist is forced to contend with the mutant, cannibalistic family lurking in the desolate farmhouse. But what starts as a Texas Chainsaw-inspired story ultimately incorporates the franchise's signature sci-fi flare.
Ethan learns that Mia was an agent involved with a bioweapons research project overseeing Eveline, a human B.O.W. prototype created to appear as a ten-year-old girl. In 2014, Mia's "nannying" duties involved smuggling Eveline across the Gulf of Mexico, where the ship was wrecked by a hurricane. As a result, Mia and the nearby Baker family were infected with a mind-controlling fungus known as Mold.
During the events of RE7, Ethan is also infected with Mold but manages to save Mia. The two are rescued by Blue Umbrella and transported to an isolated BSAA safe house to undergo quartine. Resident Evil Village picks up a few years later with Ethan and Mia living peacefully with their baby Rosemary. However, for reasons not yet known, the BSAA guards turn on Ethan, abducting his baby and sending his world crashing down.
What Does Ethan Look Like?
While fans are anxiously anticipating Ethan's fate in Village, a big question remains from RE7 -- what does Ethan look like? Capcom purposefully kept Ethan's face hidden to immerse players with the first-person POV fully, but this isn't an RPG. Many players found Ethan unrelatable and struggled to connect with him as opposed to other RE characters like Leon and Clarie.
Thanks to savvy modders, Ethan's face was showcased in a mod that makes Biohazard third-person. By extracting the character model used in cutscenes, Ethan Winters was revealed as a good-looking blonde with a white button-down. Although he might be dressed a bit casual to take down mutants, Ethan is an intriguing protagonist that fans hope to see more of in Capcom's Resident Evil Showcase and upcoming Village installment.
Resident Evil Village arrives on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Steam on May 7, 2021.