Understanding the Endings of Resident Evil Requiem

At the conclusion of Resident Evil Requiem, players face a pivotal choice that determines the fates of Grace and Leon. With two possible endings, the path you select greatly influences the narrative outcome, one of which is notably more favorable than the other. For those curious about the ending not chosen, you’ve come to the right place. A video is available that showcases both endings, and below, we’ll delve into the details of each conclusion. Let’s break down the two possible endings of Requiem. The Positive Outcome Grace and Leon's journey takes them to Raccoon City, the birthplace of the Resident Evil saga. While the NEST facility has been a well-known secret, Requiem introduces another hidden lab beneath the notorious orphanage: the ARK. Here, Grace uncovers a previously unreleased interview with Ozwell E. Spencer, the mastermind behind Umbrella, conducted by her mother, journalist Alyssa Ashcroft. In this video, Spencer expresses his regret over the havoc wrought by Umbrella’s viral and bioweapon developments. His desire for redemption is illustrated through his decision to adopt a baby girl, Grace. Contrary to the claims of villains Zeno and Victor Gideon, Grace is not a genetic key to a virus, but an ordinary girl. Spencer’s dialogue hints that Elpis, the crucial element of Requiem, is not a weapon but rather a cure for bioweapons. Thus, when Grace is faced with the choice to release or destroy Elpis, the right decision becomes evident. Upon releasing the antiviral, Zeno, the slick villain who resembles Wesker, mistakenly believes he has gained ultimate power. However, the fast-acting serum cures his infections, stripping him of his abilities. Soon after, Victor Gideon, the primary antagonist and former Umbrella member, arrives, asserting that a world without viral weapons would lead to chaos, a notion he supports wholeheartedly. In a twist of fate, Zeno, whose true allegiance lies with The Connections, a covert organization from Resident Evil 7 and Village, is swiftly decapitated by a transforming Gideon. As the battle escalates, Grace uses the Elpis antiviral to heal Leon, who has been suffering from a severe T-Virus infection throughout their ordeal. Despite Gideon’s newfound powers, Leon manages to defeat him. Yet, in classic Resident Evil fashion, Gideon mutates into a grotesque beast, resembling a Nemesis. After a fierce confrontation involving shooting weak points and dodging strikes, Leon ultimately triumphs. Just when it seems they are doomed as the ARK begins to collapse, Hound Wolf squad arrives for a timely rescue, although their leader, Chris Redfield, is absent. Safe at last, Leon informs Sherry Birkin that the antiviral works and vows to provide her with a dose. Meanwhile, Grace reflects on the loss of Emily, the girl she tried to save, but Leon reassures her that she might still be alive. As the dust settles, news reports reveal the exposure of Umbrella’s secrets, including the true reasons behind the 1998 missile strike on Raccoon City. The Connections face scrutiny as conspiracy theorists allege their involvement in governmental manipulation and the cover-up of Alyssa’s death. Is There a Post-Credits Scene? Choosing the positive ending leads to a post-credits scene where Grace returns to her job as an FBI analyst. A phone conversation with Leon confirms that Emily survived and now lives with Grace, who is helping her regain her reading skills. A photo on Grace’s desk shows that Emily has regained her eyesight, likely due to Elpis’s effects. Grace’s superior requests a thorough report on the ARK events and their implications, which becomes accessible in the bonus menu, signifying this ending as the canon conclusion of Requiem. In the final post-credits moment, soldiers in black gear and gas masks at ARK discuss eliminating the remaining BSAA forces and retrieving the “objective” before the Wolf Squad arrives, hinting at future developments in Resident Evil 10. The Negative Outcome If players mistakenly believe that Elpis is simply another Umbrella creation and opt to destroy it, they will trigger Requiem’s negative ending. After inputting the destruction command, the ARK begins to collapse. Leon heroically boosts Grace to safety but is soon overpowered by Zeno, who mercilessly executes him. Zeno then gazes at Grace as the platform crumbles beneath him, signaling his demise. Grace, in shock and grappling with survivor’s guilt, ascends to the surface where she is met by a rescue team. This ending concludes abruptly, lacking the fanfare of the positive outcome and any post-credits scenes, leaving players with a sense of disappointment. Players are then given the option to reload from the moment Grace decides what to do with Elpis to experience the canon ending. Grace’s Insights Completing the positive ending unlocks Grace’s detailed report within Requiem’s bonus menu, chronicling six decades of Umbrella’s history since its inception in 1968. The document highlights the ideological clash between co-founders Ozwell E. Spencer and James Marcus, which caused significant strife in the company’s research trajectory. Despite Spencer’s eventual demotion of Marcus, the damage was done, with The Connections secretly funding Marcus and placing spies within Umbrella. By the 1990s, Spencer lost control, retreating to ARK to develop Elpis in secrecy.