Resident Evil Village is coming out in May, and it will continue the story of Ethan Winters, the protagonist from Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Unlike previous protagonists in mainline games, Ethan's face is never shown and very little is ever revealed about his background before the beginning of the game. Because of this, it can be difficult to feel a connection to the character or learn anything about him. Here's everything RE7 actually reveals about Ethan Winters.
In Resident Evil 7, Ethan Winters travels to Dulvey, Lousiana, after receiving a distressing video from his missing - and presumed dead - wife, Mia. Before long, Ethan is swept up in a plot involving a family of cannibals, a bioweapon named Eveline, and familiar Resident Evil groups like Umbrella and BSAA. Despite Resident Evil 7 having multiple endings, Ethan's actions within the game only reveal a little bit about his character and personality.
First, Ethan is a devoted husband. Mia is presumed dead and her video for Ethan is three years after she'd gone missing. Ethan hasn't given up hope, though, and he drops everything to travel to Louisiana to try to find his wife. Second, he's brave. Even after Mia tries to kill him (multiple times) and Resident Evil 7's plot begins to unravel, Ethan continues trying to find ways to save others. This also shows that he's pretty selfless and cares about other people. This is great for learning Ethan's personality, but very little else is known about his backstory before the events of Resident Evil 7 - and there may be a good reason for this.
Why Ethan Winters' Background Is A Mystery In Resident Evil 7
Ethan Winters is more of a blank slate character, which means players are meant to feel like they're him. This is often done in RPGs, so it's not necessarily unusual, but it is a little strange in a Resident Evil game. Resident Evil 7 marks the first time the series is told from a first-person perspective, which is great for an immersive experience. It's also why Ethan's face is never shown, since players are supposed to feel like they're Ethan. This is probably why so much of his background is kept a mystery, too.
Of course, this is Resident Evil, so a plot twist involving Ethan's face in RE8 is always possible. And it hasn't stopped modders from creating a face for Ethan already. Keeping Ethan's identity a secret, including what he was up to prior to the events of RE7, is great for player immersion - but it can keep people from feeling any connection to the character. Compared to other series protagonists, like Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine, Ethan's character can feel a bit shallow.
Although very little is known about Ethan Winters' actual background, his personality traits are revealed over the course of Resident Evil 7. He is a brave, selfless individual who is deeply devoted to his wife, Mia. Fans will surely learn more about Ethan - and maybe even more about his backstory - when Resident Evil Village releases later this year.