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Spoilers for both endings and the epilogue. At the ARK, Grace must choose whether to destroy or release Elpis. Destroying it leads to Leon’s death; releasing it lets Grace cure him, triggers the final fight with Victor, and reveals a fuller epilogue. The release choice is the more complete story outcome, but the available official material does not establish which ending is canon.
What happens if you destroy Elpis?
In the destroy route, Leon is already weakened by the Raccoon City Syndrome virus. Without Elpis, he cannot defeat Zeno, who shoots and kills him. Grace escapes as the ARK collapses, shaken by Leon’s death. GameSpot labels this the bad ending; that is the outlet’s description, not a neutral in-game designation. GameSpot’s ending guide describes the events, and PC Gamer’s guide also reports Leon’s death.
What happens if you release Elpis?
Releasing Elpis allows Grace to use it as an antivirus for harms caused by Umbrella and other bioweapons corporations. She administers it to Leon, restoring him enough to fight. Victor arrives, calls Zeno an imitation, kills him, mutates, and becomes the final boss. Leon defeats Victor in a Nemesis-like battle. GameSpot calls this the Hope ending.
The Hope ending’s aftermath
- Hound Wolf Squad reaches the ARK, and Leon is told Commander Redfield is looking for him.
- Leon and Grace talk aboard a helicopter. Sherry is shown smiling, suggesting the cure may help her, though the scene does not establish the full extent of that outcome.
- Emily is alive after being rescued. In the post-credits scene, Grace’s FBI office contains a photograph of Emily beside one of Emily’s mother, suggesting Grace has become her guardian.
- The ending grants the “Hope and Requiem” achievement or trophy and unlocks Grace’s Report, according to GameSpot.
How the endings compare
| Outcome | Leon | Victor fight | Additional story material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destroy Elpis | Zeno kills him. | No Victor boss fight is described in this route. | Grace escapes the collapsing ARK; no Hope-ending epilogue or Grace’s Report unlock is described. |
| Release Elpis (Hope) | Grace cures him, and he survives the confrontation. | Leon fights and defeats mutated Victor. | Helicopter aftermath, Sherry’s reaction, Emily’s post-credits scene, and Grace’s Report unlock. |
Events and unlock details in the table are reported by GameSpot’s guide; the source does not provide a separate exhaustive list of every scene omitted from the destroy route.
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- Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
- For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
- An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
- Pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem are now open, with the bonus of Grace’s costume: Apocalypse. Please note that the picture weapon does not come with the costume, but it can be obtained in-game.
Which ending is canon?
PC Gamer calls the destroy outcome “non-canon,” but that is the outlet’s characterization. The official statements cited here do not confirm which ending, if either, is canon, so treat the question as unresolved rather than as settled series continuity.
Can you return to the choice?
GameSpot says a manual save before Leon’s elevator segment preserves a route back to the final decision. Its guide also reports that after the destroy ending’s credits, the game returns players to a system-generated save at the choice. Save behavior may depend on the game version, so check the current game’s prompts before relying on either route.
Rank #2
- A NEW ERA OF SURVIVAL HORROR — Experience the ninth mainline Resident Evil adventure, blending terrifying survival horror with pulse-pounding action in an immersive new chapter.
- TWO INTERTWINED JOURNEYS — Experience the story through FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy, each bringing a distinct gameplay style to the nightmare.
- SURVIVE AS GRACE ASHCROFT — Step into terrifying survival horror as FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft faces deadly threats and fights to escape death.
- TAKE ACTION AS LEON S. KENNEDY — Dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy as the two protagonists’ journeys collide.
- RETURN TO RESIDENT EVIL — Enter the latest mainline chapter of Capcom’s iconic survival horror series for a chilling experience built around fear, tension, and action.
What the choice means in the story
The decision turns on whether Grace will destroy the cure or trust it enough to release it. One route leaves Leon vulnerable and ends in his death; the other saves him and resolves the Victor confrontation while showing more of Grace’s future. Producer Masato Kumazawa described the title as having “many layers,” including a requiem for Grace as she grapples with the loss of her mother and for people affected by the Raccoon City incident. That is official commentary on the game’s themes, not a stated interpretation of the specific Elpis choice. Kumazawa’s PlayStation.Blog Q&A also describes the story as returning to Raccoon City and Umbrella’s machinations.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![Resident Evil Requiem Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41VIBXv27lL._SL160_.jpg)
- Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
- For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
- An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
Rank #3
- DELUXE EDITION CONTENT — Includes the full game plus five costumes, four weapon skins, two screen filters, two charms, the Raccoon City Classic Audio Pack, and Letters from 1998.
- A NEW ERA OF SURVIVAL HORROR — Experience the ninth mainline Resident Evil adventure, blending terrifying survival horror with pulse-pounding action in an immersive new chapter.
- TWO INTERTWINED JOURNEYS — Experience the story through FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy, each bringing a distinct gameplay style to the nightmare.
- SURVIVE AS GRACE ASHCROFT — Step into terrifying survival horror as FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft faces deadly threats and fights to escape death.
- TAKE ACTION AS LEON S. KENNEDY — Dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy as the two protagonists’ journeys collide.
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