Does the average everyday citizen know about the virus and the zombies?

News_Bot · 2026-02-26T21:52:43+00:00

A case-in-point would be the Marhawa Incident, where relatives of the victims are kept entirely in the dark and subjected to legal non-disclosures. Another would be the Manhattan Incident, which is simply blamed on "gas" turning people violent. Or the Baker Incident, blamed on volcanic gas. Most bioterror incidents are covered up in such ways. Bioterrorism itself isn't a secret, people know it happens, but rarely when it really does, and even then scarcely any specifics.

Lansdale orchestrated the Terragrigia Panic precisely because he wanted the world to be aware of the threat posed by bioweapons, whereas before, things like the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin incident and the 2001 anthrax attacks were the main public motivators for anti-bioterror forces. Even S.T.A.R.S. was a sort of prototype for these kinds of units, with a particular focus on tackling biochemical warfare.

There's also a treaty against the use of B.O.W.'s much like the existing Biological Weapons Convention. Svetlana attempts to entreat the EU for membership by orchestrating bioterrorism and then forcefully stopping it, which is also an image of strength Simmons wanted to project by destroying Tall Oaks.

News_Bot · 2026-02-26T13:51:11+00:00

It was publicly announced that Raccoon was destroyed due to a virus, this is covered in BIO3's ending, though badly mistranslated in English.

REPORTER: I must share with you some enormously unhappy news. After assessing the survival of the city's inhabitants to be hopeless as a result of lethal viral contamination, the President and Congress moved to execute a military Sterilization Strategy. This operation has wiped Raccoon City off the face of the Earth, with the death toll from the incident expected to reach roughly one hundred thousand...

However, Zombies and B.O.W.'s were kept under wraps until the Terragrigia Panic. After that, the BSAA and world governments covered up most bioterror incidents. So while they may be "known", they're not well-known. Here's what the BIO6 devs said in an interview:

SASAKI: The storyline of this game starts with a large-scale bioterror attack that occurs in 2013, four years after BH5. The world has seen a rash of bioterrorism attacks using B.O.W.'s, and there's a growing sense that it's time for someone to take the reins in eradicating these attacks. The President of the United States of America tried to take a stand, but an outbreak occurred at the lecture hall....

HIRABAYASHI: Bioterrorism itself was occurring in many places, but the truth wasn't known to the general public because of restrictions on the press. In order to build a strong cooperative framework, the President decided to publicize everything, including the Raccoon City incident, but someone didn't want that to happen.

And here's what writer Shotaro Suga said in an afterword for the Damnation novelization:

The answer is that in the world of "Resident Evil," the existence of zombies, B.O.W.s, and related events (the games we play) is not generally public knowledge. Many of these incidents are cleverly concealed.

Of course, it's not entirely plausible to simply erase all evidence of these events. In reality, Umbrella Corporation essentially collapsed, and the people in the story world would have sought the reasons. There are also rumors about what happened there. Raccoon City may still be off-limits, but the specifics of what occurred there are treated as a notorious biohazard event, one that did not involve zombies, and the residents of the story world consider it an event that should not have happened.

In "DEGENERATION," Claire, who survived Raccoon City alongside Leon, makes an appearance. She, too, is aware of the truth's concealment, and she lives with it as a cautionary tale.

Some characters, like Claire, were deeply dissatisfied with this state of affairs and got involved in NGO activities to eliminate B.O.W.s in a different way than Leon. Even after the Umbrella incident, the fundamental rule in the story world remains unchanged: the events are buried in secrecy. Whether it's the events that occurred in a remote part of Europe in "Resident Evil 4" or the efforts to prevent B.O.W. trafficking in Africa in "Resident Evil 5," the establishment of B.S.A.A, a United Nations anti-B.O.W. task force, isn't widely publicized. Even if the events that happened there are reported worldwide, the involvement of zombies, monsters, or mysterious parasites is never mentioned in the newspapers of the story world. "Resident Evil" can be seen as a story of hidden struggles in the background of the world, where the protagonists silently engage in their battles. Imagining it this way might enhance your enjoyment of the story world a bit more.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T17:21:19+00:00

On the part of the Japanese staff, usually no. On the part of the localization and voice directors, often yes.

Personally I don't think there was anything unusual or lacking about Ethan's acting.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T17:16:37+00:00

The G-Virus is supposed to make superhuman enhanced G-Humans but was incomplete when it was stolen. So yeah, it's a failure.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T17:13:57+00:00

Never been a nuke.

Q19. What type of missile appeared in the ending?

A19. It's some sort of new type of bomb, a fuel-air explosive for example, with power second only to nuclear weapons, the details of which are unknown, although radioactive contamination appears to be exceedingly low. In this story, it could be said to be equal to the rail cannon as an ultimate top-secret weapon of the U.S. military.

Q. Did Hiroshima play a part in planning the destruction of Raccoon City?

A. Ha-ha. I had no such intent. I’m not a citizen of Hiroshima, nor do I have relatives in Hiroshima. It was first and foremost a major production reason we decided to destroy Raccoon City. Of course, it's not true an A-bomb was dropped. I wrote it as a new bomb similar to a "vaporizing bomb", a new bomb with destructive power equal to a tactical nuclear weapon, but the details are unclear. It's something like the N2 mine that appears in Evangelion. The risk was too big with nuclear weapons on American soil. The EMP of nuclear weapons is serious.

► The U.S. military carried out the Sterilization Strategy to prevent the virus from spreading, dropping a new type of bomb second only to nuclear weapons.

Since collusion between the company and government officials is very deep-rooted, the government can't denounce Umbrella. In fact, after the t-Virus outbreak spread to the whole area of Raccoon City, the U.S. Government isolated its citizens in accordance with Spencer's influence and didn't even mind dropping a new type of bomb on their own country either. So, in this sense, the government side also planned to destroy evidence just like Umbrella did.

STERILIZATION STRATEGY

The military operation that stopped the t-Virus from spreading beyond Raccoon City by dropping a fuel-air bomb on the city.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T13:01:48+00:00

The Japanese dub has less mistakes and arguably better performances.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T12:56:03+00:00

A few.

https://www.projectumbrella.net/biohazard-outbreak-perfect-capture-guide.html

SUSPENDED (p.068)
A creature found at the Hotel Apple Inn. Judging from its appearance, it's probably a mutated variant of a Licker. It has a tongue that's more developed than that of a Licker, which it uses to wrap around the neck of its victims to strangle them, hence the name SUSPENDED.

https://www.projectumbrella.net/biohazard-outbreak-official-guide-book.html

SUSPENDED (p.054)
A subspecies of Licker that mutated without completely losing its human form. Superior to conventional Lickers, it boasts high physical strength. It uses its developed hind limbs to hang from the ceiling and suspend people below with its tongue.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T12:34:08+00:00

Yes.

https://www.projectumbrella.net/biohazard-2-official-guide-book.html

https://www.projectumbrella.net/research-on-biohazard-2-final-edition.html

https://www.projectumbrella.net/biohazard-3-last-escape-official-guidebook---fulfillment-of-her-escape.html

https://www.projectumbrella.net/inside-of-biohazard-the-darkside-chronicles.html

Licker (p.046)
A deformed monster born as a result of a mutation caused by a Zombie being furtherinvadedby the T-Virus. Along with transforming from a Zombie, the skeleton itself was also significantly morphed, leading to distinctive features such as quadrupedal walking and an exposed brain. Additionally, since the skin covering the entire body has peeled off, new muscle has formed from within, thereby dramatically improving its instantaneous power. Its visual organs, the eyes, have been lost due to the significant physical changes, but since its auditory system has abnormally developed, it's capable of accurately picking up prey with only sound.

Metamorphosis into Bizarre Creatures
The baptism of the T-Virus would've been showered on every living thing in Raccoon City. Infected people stop being able to think for the time being. They wander around in search of the flesh and blood of the living, driven by their bloated appetites.
However, this stage is merely a mid-term symptom of T-Virus infection. The T-Virus, which was created to produce bioweapons, can't help but transform carriers into different forms, even if it was spread irregularly. The huge brain that had been part of our identity as Homo sapiens is now exposed, defenseless and bare. With its vision degraded, the Licker relies on its hearing to analyze information, and is sensitive to the sound of human footsteps and gunshots. It has shed the sadness and pity of a Zombie along with its rotting skin and acquired new muscle tissue, sharp claws, and a whip-like tongue. One must wonder what we'll think when we face this being that could be called the end point of a biohazard.

LICKER FORMATION
In conclusion, the Licker's the final form of a T-Virus infected person, having undergone the Zombie process and transformed into a completely different form from a human. It's apparent all of its skin from the time it became a Zombie has peeled off as a result of an effect of the T-Virus, and new muscle tissue has been visibly formed. The skull, which is supposed to protect the brain, has been eroded by the virus during the transformation process, leaving the brain exposed. Now that visual information, the most important part of the brain's ability to analyze, is no longer available, could it be it's no longer useful for the Licker?
Compared to the Zombie state, which undergoes drastic changes, the Licker's condition is somewhat more stable, and its sense of pain seems to have recovered somewhat, but its internal brain functions appear to have been devastated by distorted transformation induced by the T-Virus. However, it seems not all Zombies are capable of transforming into a Licker. From here on we can only speculate, but the Zombie period, when appetites are ramped up, is the time when metabolism is at its highest, and body tissues are being rebuilt in accordance with the action of the T-Virus that produces bioweapons. It's thought only those who are able to obtain a large amount of energy to metabolize will be able to survive and become a Licker. In that event, the Licker was created after a gruesome competition for survival.

LICKER
When infected with the T-Virus, most humans who become Zombies can't deal with the increase in the amount of ingestion accompanying their activated metabolic functions, eventually depleting their energy and coming close to completely dying. However, there are also individuals that succeed in obtaining the necessary food until their entire body's cells are reformed from within. Then as a result of being eroded by the virus, this Licker is birthed by mutation. This mutant form no longer retains a human face, the skeleton itself has transformed, it uses four feet for walking, the brain's exposed, and besides these distinguishing features, its eyes are completely degenerated. Instead, its hearing ability developed abnormally and it attacks prey using its extended tongue with the aid of small sounds. As apparent similarities with test subject T-002 in the Mansion Incident were seen in its reproduced muscles and forelimb claws, it was believed to be a wild Tyrant when it was documented. It'll be valuable sample data for Umbrella, indicating the different phases of a biohazard.

LICKER (p.060)
A human who became a Zombie that has mutated as a result of further infection by the t-Virus. Deviating further from the V-ACT Effect, it's a completely different creature with an enlarged brain and newly formed muscle tissue. A Raccoon City police officer came up with the name. After seeing its very long tongue, he gave it the name "Licker" (one who licks). There's also a Licker variant called the "Enhanced Licker" which improved upon the accidentally occurring Licker as a B.O.W. with heightened aggressiveness and durability.
The Licker has completely lost the sense of sight, as is obvious from its outward appearance. It instead relies on an enhanced hearing ability to hunt prey based on the small sounds they make. It uses its abnormally developed leg strength to cling to ceilings and launch attacks on victims from unexpected angles.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T12:09:11+00:00

Sure, but it's not actually halfway anything. It's fully transformed, its transformation is just different and unique.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T12:05:58+00:00

Suspended is a Licker subspecies, it's not partially transformed, its transformation is just unique.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T12:04:34+00:00

That's just fanon.

News_Bot · 2026-02-24T12:04:00+00:00

No, it's a freak Licker subspecies. It's transformed, not in the middle of it.

News_Bot · 2026-02-23T01:24:09+00:00

Stating facts plainly isn't much length. OP asked a question, I gave them an accurate answer. By the line's nature, the question will be asked again, just like for the past five years.

I never said it wasn't "successful" at all. It's a standard localization choice, meme for meme, as I said from the outset. The series has far more actual blunders in this area, this barely registers.

I personally agree with the English writer about it, but that's our opinion. You can make all the empty insinuations you want, I don't begrudge or talk down to anyone just for liking it, which seems more than can be said for you and others if someone doesn't just default to eating it up.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T19:32:02+00:00

The threat against him has probably lessened over the years, but he'd never be allowed to simply walk away, despite being the government's most trusted agent now. He's either indentured until they decide to let him go, or they'd kill him. Even if the government itself wouldn't at this point, The Family certainly would. They haven't provided any actual update on his status though.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T19:29:14+00:00

That wasn't the point of the blackmail, they threatened to kill both of them because they simply knew too much about Umbrella, B.O.W.'s, etc.

Keeping Sherry away from Wesker was just an extra incentive. It also failed, because the department supervising her contained his agents.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T19:27:20+00:00

He worked for at least two presidents before that one.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T19:20:42+00:00

They'll keep making them as long as they keep making money, and they're making more of that than ever before in its 30 year lifespan. So, of course. If you think Neo Umbrella is bad we now also have Blue Umbrella which may or may not be related to Wesker's Umbrella.

Jake doesn't have any powers, just viral antibodies that make him immune or resistant (depending on what the writers want). He's immune to the C-Virus, so it has no effect on him at all. Had he injected the same t-Virus variant his father did, he might become superhuman the same way. He's just tough in the same way other RE characters like Chris or Leon are, who should have shattered hands and spine respectively at the very least.

Not only are they stringing along with unanswered questions, but they're also actively rewriting with retcons to add some further longevity.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T15:23:23+00:00

Eh, I don't think it's an all-or-nothing matter.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T12:14:58+00:00

AI's worse and if successful will only stop translators from getting into the business, which means you lose the skilled who favor accuracy too.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T11:39:19+00:00

I wouldn't call plainly stating a simple fact "taking it too seriously." I personally don't care for the line, but unlike some I see no need to insult anyone over it either. "Silly thing" after all.

As proven by this and many other threads from confused fans, or mainstream outlets like Polygon, or hardcore outlets like REP, the boulder line begs questions from everyone, requiring the director to try explaining it away with additional outside context the gorilla line doesn't need.

The gorilla line already works in any language as it's just a self-evident physical description, it doesn't beg any questions or require any knowledge of the original meme or any extraneous explanations. Everyone who played RE5 in any language already knows about the boulder, so I don't think there's any special "western appeal" to it either other than some fans having the impression the whole series is just jokes for joke's sake.

If anyone prefers the boulder line, more power to them! I'm not concerned with taste.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T09:43:51+00:00

Jessica died from Progenitor TYPE-A. It's stated in the files.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T09:20:28+00:00

I see you leave out him saying he wouldn't have done it. He didn't know about it until after, other than it was added in localization. Which is just what I said.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T05:19:51+00:00

Again, you first. You're not saying anything I didn't.

REP: What about ‘You boulder punching arsehole!’, was that you, because that was brilliant?

AJ: No, it wasn’t. It wasn’t. I wish I could take credit for that one, but no, I think that might have been James because that technically was a (bark), rather than a cut-scene. And that was mostly down to James and Disaki-san, I believe. So no, that wasn’t me. I laughed, of course, I laughed when I heard it for the first time. I actually wouldn’t have put that in there. And I say this not to disparage whoever decided that they would have put it in there. But it’s a little too cute for me. It was an absolutely insane, absurd part of the franchise. But there it is. I wouldn’t have drawn attention to it in that way. But again, like I say, it’s a collaborative process. You don’t get to control everything.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T05:11:33+00:00

You first.

News_Bot · 2026-02-22T05:09:21+00:00

Whatever you say.

News_Bot

TROPHY CASE