Fans around the internet have worked tirelessly to discover the purpose of the Resident Evil 7 demo's dummy finger, and Capcom has remained tight-lipped... until now. The publisher has revealed in an email sent to Resident Evil Ambassador program members that the finger does have a use, but "the path for now is closed."

Reddit user Your-Punk-Dad posted the teaser image to the Resident Evil subreddit, where sleuths have reported what seems like everything there is in the demo. The image shows a picture of the dummy finger next to a piece of paper that says "The path for now is closed, but patience..." possibly insinuating that the dummy finger will have a purpose eventually.

Courtesy: Your-Punk-Dad on Reddit

Some fans have pointed out that both the finger and the message lie on top of a calendar set to September, suggesting that's when we could find out its secret. Reddit user Anfrers posted the full email, which says Capcom will make an official announcement, but it wanted to let Ambassadors know first. It's unclear if the announcement will reveal its purpose, a date, a new demo, or something grander. GameSpot has contacted Capcom and will keep you updated as more information is revealed.

One of the theories behind the dummy finger is that it's a key of sorts. It features a small metal rod, which some fans think needs to be removed from the finger.

What we know for sure about the demo is that it's not part of the full game and features a different protagonist. We also know that it's set after the events of Resident Evil 6.

Resident Evil 7 releases for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on January 24, 2017. Its demo, The Beginning, is only available to PlayStation Plus subscribers on PS4.

GameSpot interviewed Resident Evil 7 producer Masachika Kawata at E3, who talked to us about what the full game will actually be like. He confirmed there would be guns, but you wouldn't go in guns-blazing because Resident Evil 7 will focus on horror. Additionally, he said he wasn't happy about Silent Hills/PT's cancellation.