Resident evil lore master unravels requiem's retcons

The latest chapter in Capcom's Resident Evil saga, Resident Evil Requiem, has sent ripples through the fan community—and nowhere are those ripples felt more keenly than within the meticulously constructed world of TheBatman, the internet's foremost authority on Resident Evil lore.

A timeline spanning billions of years

For years, TheBatman, whose real identity remains shrouded in mystery, has dedicated himself to charting the sprawling, often contradictory, narrative of the Resident Evil franchise. His project, a series of PDF documents extending from 4.5 billion years ago to 2020, represents an astonishing feat of dedication, drawing from mainline games, countless spin-offs, and even supplemental materials exclusive to Japan. It's a testament to the sheer density of the series’ canon – a universe more complex than many realize.

Requiem's impact: rewriting raccoon city's demise

Resident Evil Requiem, intended to tie up loose ends and revisit beloved storylines, has naturally presented TheBatman with a significant challenge: integrating its narrative shifts into his already monumental timeline. The most immediate point of contention? The apparent complete destruction of Raccoon City via a missile—not a nuclear blast—at the end of Resident Evil 3. This retcon, as TheBatman calls it, necessitates adjustments to a significant portion of the timeline, especially given the intricacies of the remakes.

“I think it depends how deep you want to go,” TheBatman explained in a recent interview with IGN. “The main story beats remain, but the finer plot points… that’s where it becomes an issue. Does Brad Vickers die by Nemesis or zombies? Does Marvin Branagh get bitten in Desperate Times or by zombie Brad? These seemingly minor inconsistencies, when viewed chronologically, begin to compound.

Remakes vs. originals: a split canon?

The debate over the remakes' impact on established canon is ongoing. TheBatman acknowledges the dilemma: