Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness premiered on Netflix on July 8, 2021. Its main story takes place in 2006, between the events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. For the franchise’s CGI stories, its chronological place is after Degeneration and before Damnation and Vendetta. Unlike those feature-length CGI films, Infinite Darkness is a four-episode 3DCG series.
When did Infinite Darkness come out, and when does it take place?
Netflix premiered Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness on July 8, 2021. That is its release date; in the story, the present-day events occur in 2006. The official chronology also includes a flashback to the Penamstan civil war in 2000, six years earlier.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness - Season 01 | $21.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness - The Beginning | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil The Board Game: Bleak Outpost | $24.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion | $19.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The plot follows Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they investigate a virus connected to a zombie outbreak at the White House. The flashback and the 2006 investigation are presented as parts of a suspense story about what happened in Penamstan.
What order should you watch the Resident Evil CGI movies and series?
For a chronological viewing of the CGI screen stories, watch them in this order. The years below are the fictional setting years, not the titles’ release dates.
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- Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield reunite to investigate the connection between two zombie outbreaks in distant countries and uncover a threat that will shake the nation to its very core.
| Order | Title | Story year | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resident Evil: Degeneration | 2005 | CGI film |
| 2 | Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness | 2006 | Four-episode 3DCG series |
| 3 | Resident Evil: Damnation | 2011 | CGI film |
| 4 | Resident Evil: Vendetta | 2014 | CGI film |
This is a useful timeline order, not a requirement to watch every entry before starting Infinite Darkness. The official chronology places its events among the games as well: after Resident Evil 4 in autumn 2004 and before Resident Evil 5 in March 2009. The surrounding milestones include Revelations 2 and Damnation in 2011, Resident Evil 6 in June 2013, Vendetta in 2014, and Resident Evil 7 in July 2017. These dates provide context; they do not make the games prerequisites for watching the series.
Is Infinite Darkness a movie or a series?
It is an episodic series, not a feature-film release. Netflix lists four episodes and describes the production as a 3DCG anime series. Capcom executive producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi called it the franchise’s first episodic CG production and said its four episodes, at roughly 25 minutes each, add up to about the length of a film. That approximate total runtime explains the comparison, but the original structure is still four episodes.
How does it compare with the other CGI titles?
Format and viewing experience
Degeneration, Damnation and Vendetta are CGI movies; Infinite Darkness tells its story across four episodes. Its White House outbreak and Leon-and-Claire investigation are therefore delivered in episodic form, with the Penamstan events informing the mystery. The distinction is format, not a claim that one entry is better than another.
Production approach
Netflix describes Infinite Darkness as full 3DCG animation by Quebico, produced by TMS Entertainment. Director Eiichiro Hasumi said he adapted aspects of his live-action approach to camerawork and lighting for the CG production. That describes the intended approach; it does not establish a measured visual advantage over the earlier films.
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Why the story is set in 2006
The date also gives Leon a particular place in his character arc. Hasumi described the story as falling between the younger Leon driven by justice and the more fatigued Leon seen in 2014’s Vendetta. Capcom’s Kobayashi said the creators needed a point in the timeline where Leon and Claire could work together at the center of the story without disrupting established lore.
Hasumi explained that the Penamstan mystery shaped the series’ shifting timeline: “When I received this offer from Producer Shinohara, I was asked to add an element of suspense, so based on the mystery of what happened in the Penamstan War six years earlier, we constructed the story to shuffle the timeline and slowly turn over the cards to reveal the truth.” (Netflix interview, April 16, 2021.)
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- As consciousness returns and you blink shadows from your eyes, all you can hear is the ringing in your ears. At first, you think it might be from the bells, as you recall racing through the Clock Tower in search of gears to sound the great bell.
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- This expansion will drastically change the course of your Resident Evil 3: The Board Game campaign, taking you beyond the built-up city streets to brand new locations plagued by new enemies.
- But new enemies aren’t your only threat. To move forward, you must adapt to new gameplay mechanics introduced by the changed environment. Creep silently through the City Hospital. Wade through flood water in the City Park.
Where to check the official chronology
Capcom’s Resident Evil history lists the CGI entries alongside the games and gives the setting years used in the chronological order above. Netflix’s premiere announcement confirms the launch date, while its director interview discusses the 2006 setting and creative approach. Netflix’s original launch announcement does not establish present availability in every country, so check the catalog in your region if you plan to stream it.
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