Frozen grave

Everything we know about Resident Evil Village

Also known as Lady Dimitrescu: The Game.

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Character model of Lady Dimitrescu wearing a white dress while smoking a black cigarette

May is shaping up to be the scariest month of the year. On January 21, Capcom revealed the release date of the Resident Evil series' eighth installment —Resident Evil Villagealong with new gameplay footage, clues about the story, details of the new crafting system, the game’s second pre-release demo, and a new playable character.

Resident Evil Village will bring back the series’ newfound first-person gameplay with a new story that will take inspiration from horror movies like The Exorcist and Blair Witch.

Here’s everything we know about Resident Evil Village.

Capcom had already teased 'Resident Evil Village' news, but will that be postponed thanks to the leaks?

Capcom

When is the Resident Evil Village release date?

Resident Evil Village will launch on May 7, 2021.

The game was originally due to launch in April, according to a compiled list of leaks stemming from the ransomware attack detailed on ResetEra. Before this, Capcom had only specified that the game would launch in 2021.

When is the Resident Evil Village demo start date?

On April 15, 2021, Capcom confirmed a second demo for Resident Evil Village is on its way. It will be available on Xbox One and S|X, Google Stadia, and PC. The demo will be time-limited, with an eight-hour window to play the game for one hour. (Blessed be those who own multiple consoles!)

Xbox, Stadia, and PC Resident Evil Village demo dates

  • North America - May 1 5 p.m. PDT to May 2, 5 p.m. PDT
  • Europe - May 2, 2 a.m. CEST to May 3, 2 a.m. CEST
  • Asia - May 2, 8 a.m. HKT to May 3, 8 a.m. HKT

Good news for PlayStation 4 and 5 owners — they’ll have access to the demo early. Capcom will spread the demo over two time periods, one focusing on the game’s village, the other focusing on its castle. (Yes, it’s a very confusing way to release a demo.)

PS5 / PS4 Village Demo dates

  • North America - April 17, 5 p.m. to April 18, 1 a.m. PDT
  • Europe - April 18, 7 p.m. to April 19, 3 a.m. CEST
  • Asia - April 18, 5 p.m. to April 19, 1 a.m. HKT

PS5 / PS4 Castle Demo dates

  • NA - April 24, 5 p.m. to April 25, 1 a.m. PDT
  • Europe - April 25, 7 p.m. to April 26 3 a.m. CEST
  • Asia - April 25, 5 p.m. to April 26, 1 a.m. HKT

Is there another Resident Evil Village demo on PS5?

Yes, and it’s one for the Lady Dimitrescu fans. The PS5 “Maiden” demo for Resident Evil Village became available on January 21. The development team stated that demos for other platforms would roll out in the spring, so zombie fans that haven't managed to snag a PS5 yet will have to wait several more weeks before getting their hands on the latest chapter of the survival horror game.

Here's some further information on the demo, courtesy of Capcom:

Starting today, PlayStation 5 owners can get an exclusive sneak peek of the castle area from Resident Evil Village with the Maiden demo. This stand-alone experience is separate, but showcases the stunning visuals and 3D Audio that await in the main game. As the Maiden, players will need to rely solely on their wits to make their escape in this tension-filled demo, as they’ll have no way to fight or defend themselves. A separate new demo for all platforms will be available later this spring.

Resident Evil Village is shaping up to be a rather witchy affair.

Capcom

Is there a Resident Evil Village trailer?

Yes, Capcom has released multiple trailers teasing its next installment of Resident Evil. The most recent one was a deep-dive on how Capcom is approaching the world-building and character design in Resident Evil Village compared to Resident Evil 7. The company released its latest teaser during the Resident Evil Showcase on January 21.

What platforms will Resident Evil Village be available for?

Capcom’s new horror game will launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X|S, PC, and Google Stadia.

What new features are coming to Resident Evil Village?

Ahead of Capcom’s Resident Evil Showcase event on April 15, 2021, Capcom confirmed to Game Informer that Resident Evil Village will include a new crafting system. While previous installments in the series have allowed you to tinker with your inventory or combine multiple herbs for greater restorative effects, the system created for Village is far more elaborate, allowing you to craft consumables, utility items, and even weapon mods. (On paper, it sounds closer to how crafting works in The Last of Us rather than Far Cry.)

You’ll also be able to hunt animals like goats, pigs, and chickens. Once you harvest their sweet meats, bring them to The Duke’s Kitchen to craft food items, which will permanently upgrade some of Ethan’s stats and abilities. (Remember that chunky fellow on the wagon from the trailers? That’s the Duke.)

In addition to food, the Duke also offers consumables items and weapon upgrades — for a price. Village introduces a new in-game currency known as Lei, based on the real-life currency of Romania, where the game takes place. You can collect money from killing baddies and investigating all the nooks and crannies of your wintry nightmare. For more details, check out this video from Game Informer:

Is there a photo mode for Resident Evil Village?

An IGN video released in early April 2021 includes footage that suggests the game does indeed include a photo mode. Though Capcom has yet to confirm this feature, it’s sure to warm the hearts of all the Lady Dimitrescu stans out there.

How long will the Resident Evil Village campaign be?

While the extend of Resident Evil VIllage's campaign has not been revealed yet, but Resident Evil leaker Dusk Golem claimed to know roughly how long it will be on their Twitter.

"I don't know the exact play time but I've heard pretty reliably out of the RE Engine games it'll be the longest one. Not the absolute longest RE game, I personally suspect it'll be shorter than RE6/RE4, but I've heard it's longer than RE7/RE2/RE3."

RE6 is the longest game in the series, with a 21-hour campaign, while both recent remakes come in at around six to eight hours. So Resident Evil Village will reportedly be somewhere between those two extremes.

'Resident Evil Village' will pick up where 'RE7' left off.

Capcom

What is the Resident Evil Village story?

In a press release following the Resident Evil Showcase on January 21, Capcom revealed the following information about Resident Evil Village:

Resident Evil Village continues the story of Ethan Winters, first set in motion in Resident Evil™ 7 biohazard. The latest entry combines pulse-pounding action with signature survival horror gameplay synonymous with the Resident Evil series. In today’s first extensive look at gameplay, the development team revealed several new details including some features which harken back to fan-favorite elements from previous Resident Evil games. Protagonist Ethan will now be able to purchase and sell items, buy recipes for crafting, and customize weapons with a merchant dubbed “The Duke.” Using materials found throughout the game, he will be able to craft invaluable consumables needed to survive the terrors of the village. Utilizing these provisions will also involve more strategic planning, with a revised inventory system based on space management that may be familiar to series fans.
The diverse cast of enemies appearing in today’s digital program are just a few revealed from Resident Evil Village so far. Ethan will face off against many threats such as fast-moving creatures that relentlessly stalk him and Lady Dimitrescu’s mysterious daughters who can transform into swarms of insects. The game’s disparate lineup of adversaries will have their own distinctive ways of attacking, so players will need to adapt their strategies with quick decisions on when to attack, guard or flee in order to survive. Ethan has a new kick move in his arsenal to create distance from enemies and buy precious time to decide his next move.

Previously, Dusk Golem had dropped a few tidbits about RE8's alleged “serious departure” from RE7. They said that "hallucinations, occultism, insanity and not being able to trust others are huge thematics of the game" and also noted that RE7 protagonist Ethan Winters would return to fend off “werewolves” in a “snowy village.”

'Resident Evil Village' has a gloomy atmosphere in keeping with that of its predecessors.

Capcom

In translated interview from July 2020 with Japanese games magazine Famitsu, producers Tsuyoshi Kanda and Pete Fabiano confirm the upcoming installment will conclude Ethan's storyline.

A Wendigo-like monster in 'Resident Evil VIII: Village.'

Sony

Resident Evil Village will be released May 7, 2021.

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