It has long been hinted that the evil corporation that has come to be a staple of the Resident Evil Series, Umbrella, would continue to play a role in the storyline in the future. Numerous news stories have come out in recent months suggesting as much.

Even the ending of the highly acclaimed Resident Evil 4 suggested (without necessarily coming right out and saying so) that Umbrella would continue to be involved, even if it was only in the background.

However, today TGR is receiving news from our CES correspondent that this is not true.

After speaking with Chris Kramer, Capcom’s Senior Director of Communications, our reporter in the field has informed us that Umbrella will no longer be the focus of the Resident Evil Series.

Kramer has informed us that the focus will instead switch to a competitor of Umbrella, Tricell Pharmaceutical Company.

Perhaps notable is the fact that Kramer didn’t say that Umbrella is dead, just that they won’t be the focus anymore.

This information was hinted at in the past, but never confirmed. The ending of Resident Evil: Degeneration showing Tricell collecting remnants of the G-virus from the severed remains of Curtis Miller’s severed tail.

Kramer wouldn’t divulge exactly what role the new company will play in the lore of the series. Whether it will be their place to take over the pursuits of Umbrella, or to offer a fresh new character to the series, we can’t say.

More information on this development will undoubtedly be heading down the pipeline as Resident Evil 5 gets closer to its expected release date on March 13.