Capcom's iconic survival horror franchise, Resident Evil, underwent a stark transition with its seventh main installment, Resident Evil 7, that put the original's claustrophobic horror approach back at the forefront. Resident Evil 7 not just put a new spin to the classic Resident Evil formula with its first-person perspective, net set of characters, and a deadly dose of a new virus, but it also introduced a shady new organization that's far more deadly than the infamous Umbrella Corporations.
The Connections, a crime syndicate responsible for the events that follow Resident Evil 7, was first referenced in Resident Evil 5. The finer details on The Connections remain a mystery though its looming shadow over both Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village's storylines is a firm indication that there's more to it than meets the eye. With Resident Evil 9 reportedly set to conclude the Winters' storyline, here's how The Connections could play a prominent role and bring things to a full circle.
The Connections' Involvement in Resident Evil Village and How it Set Things Up for Resident Evil 9
The Connections' goal of creating bio-organic weapons that can control minds led them to Mother Miranda and her mold, who then helped them in creating Eveline. The Connections was also responsible for informing Miranda about Rose's abilities in Resident Evil Village while also revealing Ethan and Mia's location, suggesting that The Connections had connections in Blue Umbrella.
With Eveline dead and Miranda's Megamycete wiped out at the end of Resident Evil Village, The Connections may be actively searching for Rose Winters, who possess similar supernatural abilities as Eve. In the post-credit scene of Resident Evil Village, a teenage Rose is revealed to be working with an unknown organization under Chris Redfield's supervision. There is a possibility that this organization is Blue Umbrella, which also aids Chris' Wolf Hound squad in Village with medical equipment.
Resident Evil Village's BSAA twist also suggests that the former could now be involved with The Connections. This opens up several possibilities for Resident Evil 9, one of them being The Connections sending a well-known BSAA agent to capture Rose Winters. Rumors about Jill Valentine returning to Resident Evil 9 have significantly picked up in the last few months, and ironically, she fits the aforementioned role perfectly, even more so with her connections to Chris Redfield.
The Winters Storyline is great, but it largely confides in itself with little to no references to the whereabouts of past Resident Evil protagonists and the broader on-goings in the Resident Evil universe. If Resident Evil 9 is the conclusion of the Winters' story arc, it should pull the curtains off The Connections identity and primary members. In this regard, The Connections may also cause a global outbreak with the mind-controlling BOWs created with the remaining mold samples in pursuit of passively taking over the world.
Mia Winters could also have a prominent role in Resident Evil 9 since she's the only known former member of The Connections still alive. Mia's knowledge of The Connections may be the key to tracking down the source of The Connections, which could help Chris Redfield and the team in investigating and tying down various loose ends.
Resident Evil 9 needs to resolve The Connections mystery and bring closures to the Winters' and Redfield's story arcs. The Connections may seemingly be the next Umbrella Corporation, all set to cause a Racoon City-like incident in Resident Evil 9. This also leaves room to bring back fan-favorite characters like Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, and Jake Muller, united together one last time as Resident Evil looks to rejuvenate itself yet again with foreseeable entries.
Resident Evil 8 is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.