If you choose “Release Elpis” at the end of Resident Evil: Requiem (RE9), you trigger the long, canon “good” ending where Elpis is revealed to be a cure, Leon survives, and you unlock extra scenes and rewards.

Quick Scoop: What happens if you release Elpis?

When you select Release Elpis at the ARK facility terminal:

  • Grace confirms the choice and inputs the keyword linked to hope , revealing vials of Elpis.
  • It’s revealed that Elpis is effectively an antiviral/antidote designed to neutralize bio-weapon infections rather than a mind‑control virus.
  • Grace uses Elpis to cure Leon’s infection (Raccoon City Syndrome / T‑virus–related condition), restoring his strength and keeping him alive for the final stretch.

This path is widely treated as the true, canon ending of Resident Evil: Requiem.

Story outcome and cutscenes

After you release Elpis, the finale plays out very differently than if you destroy it:

  • Leon survives and recovers enough to fight, instead of being executed by Zeno in a short “bad” ending scene.
  • You get a full final boss sequence where Leon and Grace face Victor Gideon in a climactic fight, following Zeno’s brutal removal from the stage.
  • The ending cutscene is substantially longer and more hopeful, with a more satisfying wrap‑up for Grace, Leon, and the fate of Elpis.
  • There are additional post‑credits scenes that flesh out the aftermath and tease future developments in the Resident Evil universe.

In contrast, choosing Destroy Elpis cuts things off abruptly, kills Leon, and gives you only a short, grim ending.

Gameplay rewards and unlocks

Releasing Elpis doesn’t just change the story; it also affects what you unlock:

  • You still count as having finished the game , so general completion rewards (like costumes/skins and challenge visibility) unlock from either ending.
  • The “Hope and Requiem” trophy/achievement is tied specifically to the Release Elpis ending.
  • Certain in‑universe extras, like Grace’s Report , are only available if you go with Release Elpis.

If you want to see both endings, many guides recommend keeping a manual save just before the elevator/decision point so you can replay the choice without losing progress.

Destroy vs. Release Elpis (at a glance)

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Choice Story Result Leon’s Fate Length & Tone Notable Rewards Canon?
Destroy Elpis ARK collapses, Grace escapes alone, story cuts off quickly.Executed by Zeno; dies in front of Grace.Short, bleak “bad” ending.No special Elpis‑ending trophy; basic completion unlocks only.No, generally treated as non‑canon.
Release Elpis Elpis deployed as a cure, Leon recovers, final boss vs. Gideon, hopeful resolution.Survives and fights in the finale.Long, dramatic “good” ending with post‑credits scenes.“Hope and Requiem” trophy, Grace’s Report, plus normal completion unlocks.Yes, widely regarded as the canon ending.

Forum and fan discussion angle

On forums and social platforms, most players talk about Release Elpis as:

  • The morally consistent choice once you piece together that Elpis is a cure, tying into the “hope” theme and Pandora‑style symbolism.
  • The intended narrative route , because it gives proper closure, uses more of the new lore around Elpis, and sets up future Resident Evil storylines.
  • The practical choice if you care about unlocks, achievements, and seeing the full scope of the ending content.

Many players still recommend doing a second run or reloading a save to experience the harsher Destroy Elpis ending later, just to see the contrast and extra scenes.

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