Ethan Winters was a ordinary person & System Engineer before the events of RE7.

[Megatron]

I'm starting to doubt he has any connection to the Ethan W. from RE5 now & no more conspiracy theory again

source : source link : https://www.residentevil.net/en/question-answer-26-AYDU53hu-2.html?ref=renet_feature

http://www.capcom.co.jp/game/content/biohazard/info/book/2674

[Seamus]

Well, that makes the game make even less sense. Then again. Resident Evil game. Logic isn't needed.

[Lanzagranadas]

It was pretty obvious they weren't the same person if you pay attention to the files. The Ethan W. from RE5 was a top-level Umbrella researcher who worked in the old African research center during the '90s, before Spencer ordered its clossure and the assassination the researchers.

[Seamus]

Originally posted by Lanzagranadas:

It was pretty obvious they weren't the same person if you pay attention to the files. The Ethan W. from RE5 was a top-level Umbrella researcher who worked in the old African research center during the '90s, before Spencer ordered its clossure and the assassination the researchers.

Can't say as I ever thought "Ethan W." was Ethan from RE7, but him not having any actual training of any kind before this is still a bit odd.

[Lanzagranadas]

Yeah, sadly this Ethan is just a faceless average Joe shoehorned into the franchise. It's good that we finally got to play as a more human and non-hero character but, that's no excuse for putting zero effort into background story and character development.

[Seamus]

Originally posted by Lanzagranadas:

Yeah, sadly this Ethan is just a faceless average Joe shoehorned into the franchise. It's good that we finally got to play as a more human and non-hero character but, that's no excuse for putting zero effort into background story and character development.

Considering the flashback boat sequence, his wife seems to have a much more interesting backstory.