On this day in gaming, back in the year of 1973, Chris Redfield is speculated to have been born, marking the beginning of aResident Evilicon. Capcom has never officially confirmed the Chris' birthday, but the franchise has hinted at the possibility of it being around this time. With the firstResident Evillaunching 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 inResident 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.
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 intotheResident Evilfranchise, but Chris has remained the key face of the story.
Claire Redfield is introduced inResident Evil 2.
Joining S.T.A.R.S. and the Event That Would Change Chris' Life Forever
On Jun 18, 2025, Chris and his partner, Jill Valentine, were assigned to investigate the mysterious murders happening inthe 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 ofResident Evil, as it introduced gamers tothe illegal bio-weapons experiments of Umbrellaand one of its founders, Oswell E. Spencer. From this point forward, Chris quickly becomes a tragic figure inResident 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 inRE6.
Chris Redfield has evolved over time, and his presence has had a lasting impact on players.
Chris Redfield boasts the most appearances in the entireResident Evilfranchise.
RE6is 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 ofRE7. 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,RE7andVillageprotagonist, Ethan, meets a heartbreaking end.
Chris' Future is Now Uncertain
At the end ofVillage, 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. WIthnewRE9rumorsclaiming that the series is headed toward a reinvention, Chris' place in the story has yet to be determined.RE9may still be hiding in the shadows, but the rest of theResident Evilfranchise has Chris' strong presence as a protagonist to partially thank for making it this far.
