On this day in gaming, back in the year of 1973, Chris Redfield is speculated to have been born, marking the beginning of a Resident Evil icon. Capcom has never officially confirmed the Chris’ birthday, but the franchise has hinted at the possibility of it being around this time. With the first Resident Evil launching back in 1996 on March 22, it only makes sense for its main character to share the same birthday, too.
Chris Redfield has been an integral character in Resident Evil, and his legacy continues to move Capcom’s horror series forward. Just like the franchise he stars in, Chris Redfield has evolved over time, and his presence has had a lasting impact on players.
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Characters like Chris Redfield and Ada Wong have been playable protagonists in a large number of Resident Evil games.
Chris Redfield Has Helped Make the Resident Evil Franchise the Beloved Series That It Is
A Secretive Early Life
Despite it being known that he was born in 1973, the early days of his life are a big mystery. Pretty much all that is known is he and his sister Claire have a strong bond, which became even more tight-knit after the death of their parents, as they only had each other to rely on. The Redfield siblings have become beloved by many who have jumped into the Resident Evil franchise, but Chris has remained the key face of the story.
Claire Redfield is introduced in Resident Evil 2.
Joining S.T.A.R.S. and the Event That Would Change Chris’ Life Forever
On July 24, 1998, Chris and his partner, Jill Valentine, were assigned to investigate the mysterious murders happening in the Arklay Mountains. Both being part of the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team, a special forces unit of the RPD, Chris and Jill would quickly take on more than they bargained for as they stumbled upon a mysterious mansion. What was once theorized to be a satanic cult taking drugs and inflicting cannibalistic killings of innocent civilians turned out to be the t-Virus, as the mansion’s staff had become infected.
This set into motion the overarching plot of Resident Evil, as it introduced gamers to the illegal bio-weapons experiments of Umbrella and one of its founders, Oswell E. Spencer. From this point forward, Chris quickly becomes a tragic figure in Resident Evil, due to the revelation that his once-trusted boss, Albert Wesker, is actually working with Umbrella. This event teaches Chris the hard way that almost no one can be trusted in a conspiracy as deep as Umbrella, and it has a deep impact on him for the rest of his life. He eventually gets his revenge on Wesker, but it also sends him down a dark road of coping with alcohol, as showcased in RE6.
Chris Redfield has evolved over time, and his presence has had a lasting impact on players.
Chris Redfield boasts the most appearances in the entire Resident Evil franchise.
RE6 is seen as a major breaking point for Chris, as he faces yet another betrayal by Ada Wong doppelganger Carla Radames. After such an intense life of betrayal and trauma, many players were surprised to see Chris return once more at the end of RE7. Unfortunately, this would only kickstart a new era of tragedy for the series hero. Chris becomes entrusted with the safety of the Winters family, and although he’s able to save Mia and Rose, RE7 and Village protagonist, Ethan, meets a heartbreaking end.
Chris’ Future is Now Uncertain
At the end of Village, it’s clear that Ethan’s daughter, Rose, is in the care of both Chris and the U.S. government. However, how involved Chris is in Rose’s life is a mystery. WIth new RE9 rumors claiming that the series is headed toward a reinvention, Chris’ place in the story has yet to be determined. RE9 may still be hiding in the shadows, but the rest of the Resident Evil franchise has Chris’ strong presence as a protagonist to partially thank for making it this far.
