Okay, you're probably wondering if Zeno is Wesker, right? This antagonist makes his debut in Resident Evil Requiem and his resemblance to the ol' "big bad" of the series is quite uncanny. We're here you answer your questions and posit some of our own theories. Sit back, relax, and be ready for a few spoilers, too.
Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem has a physical appearance that greatly resembles Albert Wesker's, from the slicked back hairstyle to the cool sunglasses/shades. Although Wesker primarily wore black or dark-colored clothing, Zeno prefers a white three-piece suit underneath his black coat. In spite of this difference, he still has that head-turning drip.
Zeno's abilities are similar to Wesker's as well, given that he can move at blindingly fast speeds, to the point of being able to dodge bullets. Both also prefer using handguns to eliminate their opponents.
Curiously enough, Zeno does exhibit unnatural mutations on his skin, which are visible on his face and neck. These dark, tendril-like bruises, are akin to those seen on Leon, who we know is suffering from Raccoon City Syndrome. It's described as a latent form of the T-Virus from the original outbreak in 1998. It earned its name given that those who survived the outbreak were unaware that they were infected, since the strain remained dormant in their bodies for years. Symptoms, like the dark bruises/growths, only manifested in recent years.
Let's get this out of the way: Albert Wesker is very much dead. At the end of Resident Evil 5's campaign, we saw that he continued to mutate due to the Uroboros Virus. As Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar made their escape onboard a helicopter, Wesker attempted to pull them straight into an active volcano.
Of course, everyone knows that the best way to finish off a Resident Evil bad guy is by using a chainsaw roundhouse kick rocket launcher. That's just what the doctor ordered for Wesker--two rocket launchers, in fact. So, no, Zeno is not Wesker, at least not the original STARS captain/mutated bioterrorist that we once knew. So, who exactly is Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem? Let's find out, shall we?
Note: We're going to share a few of our theories about Zeno's origins below. Mind you, there are major spoilers ahead.
Zeno doesn't want to be in Raccoon City since he has to attend a fashion show in Milan. Just look at that getup.
One theory regarding Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem is that he's simply a clone of the original Albert Wesker--a clone created by The Connections. The nefarious group, first introduced in Resident Evil 7, orchestrates events from the shadows, akin to a world-spanning conglomerate that's even more sinister than Umbrella.
It's possible that The Connections used Umbrella's own research facilities to create new bioweapons, including clones made from Wesker's genetic material. These creations, all mass-produced offshoots, are reminiscent of enemies that players fought against in previous games. That's probably why another antagonist in Requiem, former Umbrella researcher Victor Gideon, remarks that Zeno is just a mere "imitation" during the campaign.
Another theory is that Zeno could be a heretofore unknown and unrecorded candidate of Project W, a program enacted by Oswell Spencer, a co-founder of Umbrella. The project had 13 candidates in the late 90s, but only two survived: Albert and Alex Wesker.
Could Zeno somehow be a "Wesker" that managed to pull through after being injected with the virus, which then allowed him to gain similar powers? Perhaps The Connections pulled a few strings to keep his existence under wraps... until today, that is.
Throughout the campaign, you'll hear of a mysterious word: Elpis. Oswell Spencer considers Elpis his legacy. This has led Zeno and Victor to pursue Grace Ashcroft, thinking that she may be the key to unlocking its secrets.
We're not going to delve into what Elpis actually is. But, sufficed to say, there are few factors that give credence to Zeno being a clone of Spencer:
What better way for Spencer to become a god than by creating a new version of himself with superhuman powers? Then again, it would be weird for a cloned Zeno to look like Wesker, since the latter was the one who killed his "creator."
One theory that's plausible, even if it's a stretch, is that Zeno is an entirely different individual who somehow survived the Raccoon City outbreak in 1998. This might explain why he has the same symptoms as Leon. That said, it doesn't explain why he's cosplaying as Wesker and why he has the same powers. But that might be attributed to, say, The Connections doing a bit of wrangling.
Sir, you need to visit the nearest Vicki Bello clinic to get your acne checked.
There's an over-arching idea in relation to Requiem's place in the series' timeline. For the past 30 years, we've seen everything from tongue-lashing Lickers and carnivorous plants to formidable Tyrants and relentless Nemeses. We've been everywhere from remote countrysides and splendid manors to bombed out cities, abandoned subways, and underground facilities with a self-destruct sequence.
Perhaps Zeno, regardless of his origins, is simply a character meant to pay homage to the original Wesker, similar to how various Easter eggs in the game remind long-time fans of their old survival horror romps from previous years and decades.
Whatever the case may be, Zeno's presence in Resident Evil Requiem is certainly a surprise. If you'd like to know more about the campaign's conclusion and Zeno's fate, you can head over to our endings guide.
Veteran operative Leon Kennedy joins forces with FBI agent Grace Ashcroft for more nightmarish encounters against hordes of infected. If you want to survive the night, then we encourage you to check our Resident Evil Requiem guides hub.
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Resident Evil Requiem: Is Zeno a Wannabe Wesker?
Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem has a physical appearance that greatly resembles Albert Wesker's, from the slicked back hairstyle to the cool sunglasses/shades. Although Wesker primarily wore black or dark-colored clothing, Zeno prefers a white three-piece suit underneath his black coat. In spite of this difference, he still has that head-turning drip.
Zeno's abilities are similar to Wesker's as well, given that he can move at blindingly fast speeds, to the point of being able to dodge bullets. Both also prefer using handguns to eliminate their opponents.
Curiously enough, Zeno does exhibit unnatural mutations on his skin, which are visible on his face and neck. These dark, tendril-like bruises, are akin to those seen on Leon, who we know is suffering from Raccoon City Syndrome. It's described as a latent form of the T-Virus from the original outbreak in 1998. It earned its name given that those who survived the outbreak were unaware that they were infected, since the strain remained dormant in their bodies for years. Symptoms, like the dark bruises/growths, only manifested in recent years.
Albert Wesker's fate
Let's get this out of the way: Albert Wesker is very much dead. At the end of Resident Evil 5's campaign, we saw that he continued to mutate due to the Uroboros Virus. As Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar made their escape onboard a helicopter, Wesker attempted to pull them straight into an active volcano.
Of course, everyone knows that the best way to finish off a Resident Evil bad guy is by using a chainsaw roundhouse kick rocket launcher. That's just what the doctor ordered for Wesker--two rocket launchers, in fact. So, no, Zeno is not Wesker, at least not the original STARS captain/mutated bioterrorist that we once knew. So, who exactly is Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem? Let's find out, shall we?
Note: We're going to share a few of our theories about Zeno's origins below. Mind you, there are major spoilers ahead.
Zeno doesn't want to be in Raccoon City since he has to attend a fashion show in Milan. Just look at that getup.
Theory #1: A Wesker Clone made by The Connections
One theory regarding Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem is that he's simply a clone of the original Albert Wesker--a clone created by The Connections. The nefarious group, first introduced in Resident Evil 7, orchestrates events from the shadows, akin to a world-spanning conglomerate that's even more sinister than Umbrella.
It's possible that The Connections used Umbrella's own research facilities to create new bioweapons, including clones made from Wesker's genetic material. These creations, all mass-produced offshoots, are reminiscent of enemies that players fought against in previous games. That's probably why another antagonist in Requiem, former Umbrella researcher Victor Gideon, remarks that Zeno is just a mere "imitation" during the campaign.
Theory #2: A Wesker candidate from Oswell Spencer's Project W
Another theory is that Zeno could be a heretofore unknown and unrecorded candidate of Project W, a program enacted by Oswell Spencer, a co-founder of Umbrella. The project had 13 candidates in the late 90s, but only two survived: Albert and Alex Wesker.
Could Zeno somehow be a "Wesker" that managed to pull through after being injected with the virus, which then allowed him to gain similar powers? Perhaps The Connections pulled a few strings to keep his existence under wraps... until today, that is.
Theory #3: An actual clone of Oswell Spencer
Throughout the campaign, you'll hear of a mysterious word: Elpis. Oswell Spencer considers Elpis his legacy. This has led Zeno and Victor to pursue Grace Ashcroft, thinking that she may be the key to unlocking its secrets.
We're not going to delve into what Elpis actually is. But, sufficed to say, there are few factors that give credence to Zeno being a clone of Spencer:
- Spencer, as mentioned above, planned Project W.
- Spencer, as we've seen in Resident Evil 5, wanted to "become a god," so that his eugenics program could lead to a new age with "an advanced race of human beings."
- Should Spencer clone himself, then it's possible that the clone would retain some of his memories, albeit muddled or unclear. Perhaps this is why Zeno is aware of Elpis, but is uncertain of its true nature. He only knows that Grace plays a crucial role.
What better way for Spencer to become a god than by creating a new version of himself with superhuman powers? Then again, it would be weird for a cloned Zeno to look like Wesker, since the latter was the one who killed his "creator."
Theory #4: Someone else entirely
One theory that's plausible, even if it's a stretch, is that Zeno is an entirely different individual who somehow survived the Raccoon City outbreak in 1998. This might explain why he has the same symptoms as Leon. That said, it doesn't explain why he's cosplaying as Wesker and why he has the same powers. But that might be attributed to, say, The Connections doing a bit of wrangling.
Sir, you need to visit the nearest Vicki Bello clinic to get your acne checked.
An homage to the past
There's an over-arching idea in relation to Requiem's place in the series' timeline. For the past 30 years, we've seen everything from tongue-lashing Lickers and carnivorous plants to formidable Tyrants and relentless Nemeses. We've been everywhere from remote countrysides and splendid manors to bombed out cities, abandoned subways, and underground facilities with a self-destruct sequence.
Perhaps Zeno, regardless of his origins, is simply a character meant to pay homage to the original Wesker, similar to how various Easter eggs in the game remind long-time fans of their old survival horror romps from previous years and decades.
Whatever the case may be, Zeno's presence in Resident Evil Requiem is certainly a surprise. If you'd like to know more about the campaign's conclusion and Zeno's fate, you can head over to our endings guide.
Veteran operative Leon Kennedy joins forces with FBI agent Grace Ashcroft for more nightmarish encounters against hordes of infected. If you want to survive the night, then we encourage you to check our Resident Evil Requiem guides hub.
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