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what happens if you release elpis in re9

If you choose to Release Elpis in Resident Evil 9: Requiem (RE9), you trigger the game’s good / true ending path with extra story, a major boss fight, and a much more hopeful conclusion for the main characters.

Quick Scoop: What happens if you release Elpis in RE9?

When Grace selects the “Release Elpis” option at the ARK terminal near the end of the game, several key things happen.

  1. Elpis is revealed as a cure, not just a weapon
    • Grace types the password that releases vials of Elpis from their containment.
    • It’s revealed that Elpis is essentially an antiviral cure that can counter the T‑virus syndrome rather than just another bioweapon.
  1. Leon is saved instead of sacrificed
    • Grace uses Elpis to cure Leon’s T‑virus condition , stopping his progression toward becoming another bio-organic monster.
 * Unlike the “Destroy Elpis” route, Leon does not die in this path and is able to keep fighting.
  1. Zeno loses his power and is taken off the board
    • Zeno injects himself with Elpis expecting greater power, but instead loses his enhanced abilities , stripping him of his advantage.
 * He is later **killed** as part of this route, removing him as an ongoing threat.
  1. Victor Gideon returns and becomes the true final boss
    • The story brings back Victor Gideon , who steps into the spotlight once Elpis is released.
 * Leon, now cured, fights Gideon in a **multi-phase final boss fight** , giving you a longer, more involved climax than the destroy route.
  1. You unlock the “good” or canon ending with more cutscenes
    • The Release Elpis choice leads to a much longer ending sequence , including a more detailed resolution for Grace and Leon, plus additional epilogue content.
 * Guides and wikis describe this as the **good / true / canon ending** , with two post‑credits scenes and extra narrative payoff compared to the short, bleak “Destroy Elpis” bad ending.

Why most players say “Release Elpis” is the better choice

From current guides and forum discussions (early 2026), the community consensus is:

  • It saves Leon , a long‑time fan favorite.
  • It opens up the full final boss sequence and extra gameplay.
  • It unlocks the true ending and sets up future Resident Evil story threads more cleanly.

So if you’re wondering “what happens if you release Elpis in RE9, and is it the better option?” — releasing Elpis gives you more content, a happier conclusion, and what most sources call the canon outcome.

Bottom line: Release Elpis = cure for Leon, Zeno de‑powered and killed, Gideon final boss fight, long good/true ending with post‑credits scenes. Destroy Elpis = short bad ending, Leon dies, less content.

TL;DR:
Release Elpis in RE9 to get the good/true ending, save Leon, fight Gideon as the real final boss, and see extended cutscenes and post‑credits scenes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.