The original Resident Evil was a contained haunted house story that followed a group of soldiers as they faced off against mutants and zombies. While the game was a hit, its sequel shows how far the infection can spread. While the Raccoon City outbreak in Resident Evil 2 and RE3 feel like a tactical decision from the Umbrella Corporation, its spread was actually an accident.
Before the outbreak began in late September, the t-Virus’ main researcher, Dr. William Birkin, was cornered by the Umbrella Security Service task force with plans of betraying the company and selling the virus. This resulted in a massive shootout that ended with Birkin mortally wounded. The soldiers took samples of the G and epsilon t-Viruses and left the scientist for dead. However, Birkin decided to inject himself with one of the viruses to hunt down the soldiers, spilling the virus into the sewer where it infected the cockroaches and rats within.
The two mutated species fought for dominance in the sewers, but the rats were eventually driven out of their homes and took refuge at Victory Lake. There, they swam in the water, which is also a reservoir for the nearby Raccoon City. With their infected flesh contaminating the water, most of the city ended up bathing, drinking and brushing their teeth with the G and epsilon t-viruses. The infection began quickly, and in a day, the masses began to act incredibly aggressive, getting into fights in the streets. By the end of the day, cannibalism began, and zombies were effectively roaming every corner.
The government was aware of the situation and sent in people to assess it, while also covering up any wrongdoing by claiming radiation was involved. However, Umbrella had more selfish plans and utilized the outbreak as a way to test its assets. This included sending in soldiers who were said to be rescuing survivors, but who were testing their effectiveness against mutants. The company also sent Hunter mutants to kill the immune survivors and the Nemesis T-Type to hunt down any remaining S.T.A.R.S. soldiers like Jill Valentine.
Jill wasn’t the only Resident Evil protagonist caught in the outbreak either. While Jill’s story was told in Resident Evil 3, players were able to see another part of the city in Resident Evil 2. There, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield’s story begins as the former shows up late to his new job as a police officer, while Claire searches for her brother Chris in the city. Through these heroes, players are introduced to the various zombies and mutants, like the Lickers, infesting the city. Unfortunately, while they manage to survive the traumatic ordeal, the same can’t be said for the city.
In the end, the government decides to drop a thermobaric bomb on Raccoon City to end the infection completely, which also covers up its own involvement with Umbrella and keeps their research out of the hands of other countries. The bomb ultimately kills nearly 100,000 civilians and infected, leaving a crater where Raccoon City used to be. While this move ended eight days of pure hell, it also represents the beginning of a new age of bioterror that lasts for years and spawns even more deadly diseases.
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