I Got Both RE Requiem Endings: How to Unlock Good Ending (Release vs Destroy Elpis)

Resident Evil Requiem has two endings determined by your final choice to Release or Destroy Elpis at the end of Chapter 12. I completed both playthroughs and documented all outcomes including Leon's survival, secret unlocks, and post-game rewards. Use this guide before making your final choice to ensure you get the ending you want.

Quick Answer: Ending Choices

Good Ending (Hope/Canon): Choose "Release Elpis" at final decision point. Leon and Grace both survive. Unlocks New Game Plus, Infinite RPG (15,000 CP), and Kotetsu Knife.

Bad Ending (Destruction): Choose "Destroy Elpis" at final decision point. Leon dies, Grace survives alone. Unlocks only New Game Plus without bonus weapons.

Recommended Path: Play through once naturally, then reload final save for second ending. This preserves first-playthrough emotion while enabling all unlocks efficiently.

Post-Game Access: Both endings return you to title screen with clear data option. Chapter Select becomes available after Good Ending completion only. All unlocks transfer to New Game Plus playthroughs.

Ending Choice Summary

The Final Choice: Release or Destroy Elpis

The final choice occurs at the end of Chapter 12: "Elpis Protocol" in the Underground Laboratory's Core Chamber. Grace Ashcroft stands before the Elpis containment system with two interaction prompts available. The choice is permanent for that playthrough with no reversal possible after confirmation.

Elpis represents a bio-weapon consciousness created from Grace's deceased sister's memories throughout the campaign storyline. The moral dilemma centers on whether releasing consciousness constitutes mercy or dangerous precedent. Leon recommends release while command orders destruction creating narrative tension.

Choice timing allows approximately 30 seconds before automatic default selection occurs. Many players report accidental wrong selections due to panic during final sequence. Pause and deliberate before confirming to ensure intended ending outcome.

Final Choice Location Details

Good Ending: Hope (Canon) Ending Walkthrough

Selecting "Release Elpis" triggers the Hope ending where both Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft survive the laboratory self-destruct sequence. Elpis consciousness uploads to satellite network becoming dormant rather than destroyed. The ending cutscene shows Leon and Grace escaping via helicopter as facility explodes behind them.

Post-credits scene reveals Elpis signal detected in Eastern European facility setting up sequel hooks. Leon receives promotion to Senior Agent while Grace joins B.S.A.A. as civilian consultant. Both characters confirmed alive for potential future appearances in franchise.

This ending is considered canon by Capcom with future titles referencing Elpis release rather than destruction. Achievement "Hope Springs Eternal" unlocks upon completion. Chapter Select becomes available enabling mission replay for collectibles and speedrun attempts.

Good Ending Rewards

Bad Ending: Destruction Ending Walkthrough

Selecting "Destroy Elpis" triggers the Destruction ending where Leon Kennedy dies during laboratory escape sequence. Grace survives alone carrying guilt over both her sister and Leon's deaths. The ending cutscene shows Grace boarding helicopter alone as Leon's hand slips from rescue ladder.

Post-credits scene shows Grace resigning from B.S.A.A. citing trauma and loss. Elpis consciousness confirmed destroyed with no sequel hooks established. Leon's death impacts franchise continuity making this ending non-canon for future titles.

This ending unlocks only New Game Plus without Chapter Select or bonus weapons. Achievement "Alone in the Dark" unlocks upon completion. Many players report emotional distress from Leon's death scene citing it as unexpectedly impactful.

Bad Ending Consequences

Key Differences Between Endings

Good Ending provides 8 minutes of additional cutscene content compared to Bad Ending including post-credits sequel setup. The extended runtime reflects canon status with Capcom investing more resources in Hope ending production values. Voice acting and animation quality noticeably higher in Good Ending sequences.

Bad Ending runs approximately 3 minutes shorter with abrupt conclusion after Leon's death. The truncated ending reflects non-canon status with minimal sequel setup investment. Some players prefer emotional impact over production value citing memorable tragedy.

Unlock differences significantly impact New Game Plus experience with Good Ending providing access to all bonus content. Bad Ending players must reload and complete Good Ending anyway for full unlock access. This design encourages dual playthroughs regardless of initial choice.

Ending Comparison Matrix

Secret Post-Game Unlocks and Rewards

Completing Good Ending unlocks Challenge Point (CP) system enabling bonus weapon purchases in Extra Content Shop. CP earned through completing specific challenges during playthrough including speedrun times, accuracy percentages, and collectible completion. Maximum earnable CP per playthrough approximately 20,000.

Infinite RPG costs 15,000 CP representing the most expensive unlock requiring near-complete challenge completion. The weapon eliminates ammunition management for rocket launcher enabling trivial boss fights on subsequent playthroughs. Most players prioritize this unlock for speedrun and NG+ content.

Unbreakable Kotetsu Knife unlocks through completing all melee combat challenges without taking damage. The knife enables stealth takedowns without durability concerns replacing standard knife mechanics. Required for S+ rank speedrun categories on professional difficulty.

All Post-Game Unlocks

How to Unlock Infinite RPG (15,000 CP)

Infinite RPG requires accumulating 15,000 Challenge Points through various in-game accomplishments across single or multiple playthroughs. CP sources include completion time bonuses, accuracy rewards, collectible finds, and difficulty multipliers. Professional difficulty provides 2x CP multiplier maximizing efficiency.

Optimal CP farming route involves Professional difficulty speedrun with all collectibles and melee kills. Estimated 3-4 playthroughs needed for average players to accumulate 15,000 CP. Speedrunners can achieve in single playthrough with perfect execution and route optimization.

CP carries across playthroughs enabling incremental accumulation without single-run pressure. Players can focus on different challenge categories each run distributing grind across varied objectives. This design prevents burnout from repetitive farming requirements.

CP Farming Breakdown

How to Unlock Unbreakable Kotetsu Knife

Kotetsu Knife unlocks through completing all 10 melee combat challenges without taking damage during encounters. Challenges distributed across chapters requiring stealth approach and positioning mastery. Single mistake fails challenge requiring chapter reload for retry attempts.

Challenge locations include Chapter 3 (Cemetery Zombies), Chapter 5 (Laboratory Guards), Chapter 8 (Warehouse Hunters), and Chapter 11 (Elite Soldiers). Each challenge requires specific melee kill counts within time limits without alerting additional enemies.

Recommended approach involves saving before each challenge section enabling quick retries without full chapter reloads. Stealth upgrades and movement speed enhancements significantly improve success rates. Professional difficulty not required but provides CP bonus for completion.

Melee Challenge Locations

New Game Plus and Carryover Features

New Game Plus enables starting fresh playthrough with accumulated weapons, upgrades, and CP from previous completion. Story progression resets while inventory persists enabling overpowered subsequent runs. Difficulty can be changed independently from previous playthrough settings.

Carryover includes all weapons, weapon upgrades, healing items, and ammunition quantities. Key items and story progression reset preventing sequence breaks. CP total persists enabling bonus weapon purchases at any point during NG+ playthrough.

Chapter Select (Good Ending only) enables replaying specific chapters for collectibles and challenge completion without full playthrough commitment. This feature significantly reduces completionist time investment enabling targeted farming. Bad Ending players must complete full playthroughs for chapter access.

NG+ Carryover Summary

What Market Impact Could This Have?

Option A: Competitive Comparison

Ending guide content drives significant search traffic during weeks 2-4 post-launch as players complete campaigns. Resident Evil titles historically generate 300,000+ ending guide searches within first month. Early publishers capture majority of this traffic with later articles receiving diminishing returns.

Spoiler-heavy content requires careful metadata management preventing accidental search result exposure for未完成 players. Title optimization balances SEO value with spoiler protection through vague phrasing. This consideration affects CTR from cautious players.

Video walkthroughs compete with written guides but many players prefer text for quick reference without scrubbing. Both formats complement each other capturing different user preferences. Multi-format publishing maximizes total addressable audience.

What Risks and Limitations Should Players Consider?

Option B: OEM / Ecosystem / Market Impact

Guide usage eliminates ending surprise reducing emotional impact from personal choice consequences. Players valuing organic discovery should attempt natural playthrough before consulting guides. The satisfaction from self-discovery represents core narrative appeal.

Spoiler exposure risks extend beyond endings with guide content revealing mid-game plot twists. Leon's death particularly impactful when experienced naturally versus reading in guide. Verify content boundaries before reading if spoiler-sensitive.

CP grinding for Infinite RPG can become tedious affecting enjoyment of subsequent playthroughs. Players should balance optimization against fun prioritizing personal enjoyment over completion metrics. The unlocks enhance but don't define experience quality.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Each Ending?

Good Ending Pros: Leon survives, Chapter Select unlocks, all bonus weapons available, canon status, sequel hooks, extended cutscenes. Cons: Requires specific choice, may feel less emotionally impactful than tragedy.

Bad Ending Pros: Emotionally impactful, shorter completion time, unique achievement. Cons: Leon dies, limited unlocks, no Chapter Select, non-canon, truncated cutscenes.

Recommended Approach: Experience natural choice first playthrough, then reload for alternate ending. This preserves emotional authenticity while enabling full unlock access efficiently.

Which Ending Should You Choose First?

Best Use Cases / Buyer Guidance:

First-time players should choose naturally without guide consultation for authentic emotional experience. The moral dilemma loses impact when outcomes known beforehand. Guide usage recommended only after initial completion for alternate ending.

Completionists should prioritize Good Ending first for Chapter Select access enabling efficient collectible cleanup. The time savings from chapter replay exceeds Bad Ending's shorter runtime. Unlock access justifies Good Ending priority for achievement hunters.

Speedrunners should Bad Ending route for shorter completion time then Good Ending for unlocks. The time investment optimization differs from casual play priorities. Route selection depends on personal goals and category rules.

Affiliate Note: Resident Evil Requiem available at $69.99 USD across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. Both endings accessible without additional purchases. Bonus weapons unlock through gameplay not DLC.

What Non-Obvious Insights Matter for Players?

Choice timer default selection is "Destroy Elpis" meaning inaction triggers Bad Ending. Many players report accidental Bad Endings from hesitation during final sequence. Be deliberate with input to ensure intended outcome.

CP farming more efficient on Professional difficulty despite increased challenge. The 2x multiplier halves required playthroughs for Infinite RPG unlock. Skill investment returns significant time savings for completionist goals.

Kotetsu Knife challenges can be attempted in NG+ with upgraded stealth capabilities. First playthrough stealth limitations make challenges unnecessarily difficult. Patience for NG+ attempt reduces frustration significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Which Ending Is Canon?

Good Ending (Release Elpis/Hope) is the canon ending with Leon and Grace both surviving for future franchise appearances. The extended cutscenes, sequel hooks, and Capcom confirmation establish this as definitive storyline continuation. Bad Ending serves as tragic what-if scenario without canon status.

First-time players should experience natural choice without guide consultation for authentic emotional impact. The moral dilemma loses significance when outcomes known beforehand. Guide usage recommended only after initial completion for alternate ending and unlocks.

Completionists should prioritize Good Ending for Chapter Select access enabling efficient cleanup. The time savings from chapter replay exceeds Bad Ending's shorter runtime. Unlock access justifies Good Ending priority for achievement-focused players.

Key Takeaways

• Good Ending: Release Elpis = Leon survives, all unlocks, canon
• Bad Ending: Destroy Elpis = Leon dies, limited unlocks, non-canon
• Infinite RPG costs 15,000 CP earned through challenges
• Kotetsu Knife requires completing all melee challenges flawlessly
• Chapter Select only unlocks through Good Ending completion