A clear breakdown of the two endings in Resident Evil Requiem—what each option triggers and which delivers the game's full resolution
Resident Evil Requiem boils down to one stark choice at its climax: destroy Elpis or release it. At a central terminal, you — playing as Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy — must decide the fate of a dangerous Umbrella-linked artifact. That single selection immediately branches the finale into two very different conclusions, each with its own tone, combat sequences, and consequences for the cast.
The game protects the moment with a confirmation step, so you can’t pick by accident. That design forces you to own the decision and its moral weight. Below is a clearer, more human account of both outcomes: what Elpis does in each branch, how Leon fares, and what combat and narrative beats follow.
If you choose to destroy Elpis (the dark ending)
– The sequence is visceral and unforgiving. Hitting “Destroy” triggers an irreversible self-destruct: platforms break apart, alarms wail, and the facility rapidly collapses. The camera work and scripted enemy behavior funnel you through an urgent evacuation rather than a prolonged showdown.
– Grace is the one who executes the command. Sparse voice lines and distressing audio logs frame Oswell Spencer as a regretful figure, making Grace’s choice feel personal and final.
– Leon’s condition — debilitated by the so-called Raccoon City Syndrome — prevents him from escaping. Zeno intercepts the group and kills Leon with a single, brutal gunshot. There’s no cathartic boss fight here; the credits roll quickly and the epilogue is short. The result is blunt, punitive, and leaves several story threads unresolved.
– From a pacing and design perspective, the route sacrifices exploration and a climactic duel for pure suspense. It’s meant to feel definitive and bleak, a closing curtain that stresses loss over resolution.
If you choose to release Elpis (the true ending)
– Choosing “Release” sends the story down a longer, more restorative path. The terminal dispenses vials of Elpis — the same substance that’s been built up throughout the campaign. Instead of an immediate weapon, Elpis reveals unexpected therapeutic properties.
– Zeno tests a sample and watches markers of the virus recede. Grace gives Leon a vial; he recovers enough to re-enter the fight. That decision opens a sequence of decisive battles rather than a rushed escape.
– The climax pits Leon against Dr. Victor Gideon in a two-phase fight: first a tense human duel, then a grotesque, mutated transformation. The encounter echoes classic franchise battles and escalates stakes in a familiar, satisfying way.
– After Gideon falls, reinforcements arrive in time to evacuate survivors. The ending ties up several threads: the child Emily is recovered, press coverage hints at renewed investigations into Umbrella’s crimes, and a mid-credits scene confirms Emily’s recovery and Grace stepping into a caretaker role.
– This branch trades immediate finality for restoration and future possibility. It closes current arcs while leaving room for sequels or new directions.
Which path feels “best” depends on what you want from the story. Releasing Elpis gives you a fuller emotional payoff, more gameplay in the late act, and clearer hooks for future entries. Destroying it delivers a darker, cleaner finish that emphasizes consequence and loss.
Practical tips and replayability
– If you want to see both outcomes without replaying the entire campaign, save before the terminal prompt. You can reload that checkpoint to experience the alternate ending.
– The game nudges players toward the Elpis path by offering a richer climax and more character resolution, but both endings are legitimate and carry narrative weight.
– In short: Destroying Elpis ends the story in tragedy and abrupt finality. Releasing it turns a threat into a complicated chance at redemption, unlocking extended combat sequences and a more conclusive epilogue.
Either way, the binary choice at Requiem’s heart distills the game’s themes — hope versus destruction, preservation versus erasure — into a single deliberate moment. It’s a compact, impactful finale that will spark debate among players about which ending should be considered canonical.