Resident Evil Requiem brings a brand-new chapter to life in the beloved action horror series, and it makes bold decisions that affect 30 years worth of lore. Thankfully, the big risks taken in Resident Evil Requiem pay off and bring Leon and Grace's stories to a thrilling and emotional climax.
Leon and Grace's paths cross early on in Resident Evil Requiem, causing them to bond incredibly quickly. By the end of everything, the duo have built a strong two-person team built on trust and shared trauma. Leon is put through his toughest challenges yet, and Grace is way out of her element. As the two work to investigate the mystery of Dr. Victor Gideon and Raccoon City Syndrome, wild revelations unfold in the game's finale. There are technically two endings in Resident Evil Requiem, but this article will focus on the true ending.
Major spoilers ahead for Resident Evil Requiem.
Resident Evil Requiem's True Ending Brings Everything Back to Raccoon City
Resident Evil Requiem's endgame brings Leon and Grace to a devastated and desolate Raccoon City. Zeno, the leader of The Connections, and ex-Umbrella researcher Dr. Victor Gideon, are both convinced that Grace is the key to unleashing Elpis, a mysterious project that Oswell E. Spencer had been working on. Zeno and Gideon believe that Elpis is a virus that makes mind control possible, but it's locked in a high-tech vault deep under the Raccoon City ruins called the ARK. As Leon is busy taking on gigantic spiders, mutated plant life, and even Mr. X, Zeno and Gideon have kidnapped Grace to bring her to the ARK. Elpis can only be released via an unknown password, and the two villains think Grace knows what it is.
Grace Finds Out About Her True Nature and Leon Begins to Succumb to His Illness
Earlier in the story, Resident Evil Requiem makes it seem like Grace Ashcroft is the product of Umbrella experiments instead of Alyssa Ashcroft's biological daughter. This turns out to be half true. While briefly free of Zeno, Grace is able to watch an old video that her mother left behind before she was murdered. This video confirms that Alyssa is not Grace's actual mother, but it also disproves Zeno and Gideon's theories that Grace is the key to a new bioweapon. Grace is an orphan taken in by Spencer, and Alyssa eventually became her guardian after a sit-down interview with Spencer. In Alyssa's interview, Spencer states that he regrets everything that he's done with his research and that Grace is his "hope." Meanwhile, Leon is really struggling to stay alive. His Raccoon City Syndrome has reached late stages, and it seems everyone's favorite roundhouse-kicker is doomed.
In Resident Evil Requiem, it's revealed that The Connections and the U.S. Government used Spencer as a scapegoat. Even though the game shows Spencer in a redeeming light, it doesn't erase the atrocities he committed.
Grace is the Key to Elpis, But Not in the Way Zeno and Gideon Expected
Grace meets back up with a barely-alive Leon and the two return to the Elpis vault to face Zeno. Grace has a plan, and Leon puts his full trust in her. "Hope" is also something Alyssa called Grace before she was murdered at the Wrenwood Hotel, which leads Grace to realize that the password that unlocks Elpis is "hope." The password gives players the choice to either destroy or release Elpis. If players choose to release Elpis, this kicks off the true ending. After learning of Spencer's regret, Grace concludes that Elpis isn't actually a bioweapon at all. It's an antidote that makes all bioweapons obsolete. Zeno doesn't know he's being tricked, though, and enthusiastically injects a vial into his body. His powers quickly deteriorate as Gideon reminds him that the two simply theorized about what Elpis could be instead of knowing for sure. A power-hungry Gideon suddenly mutates and decapitates Zeno with his arm.
Leon and Victor Gideon Have One Final Showdown
Leon is practically at death's door at this point, but Grace quickly injects him with Elpis, saving his life. This leads to a two-stage boss fight against Gideon as he mutates into a giant monstrosity that has become a staple for endgame Resident Evil boss fights. Leon defeats Gideon and finds Grace nearby. Because of the surrounding destruction, there doesn't seem to be any exit, leading Grace and Leon to accept that this is the end of their road. Leon vows to stay by Grace's side until they both die.
Resident Evil Requiem is Ultimately a Story About Hope
Thankfully, Leon and Grace live. Chris Redfield's Hound Wolf Squad arrive to save the duo. Unfortunately, Chris Redfield is not in Resident Evil Requiem, but the finale seems to tease a potential team-up between him and Leon. Leon is cured, a vial has been saved to also cure Sherry, and the discovery of the ARK lab becomes international news.
Leon and Grace Get a Happy Ending After Going Through Hell
Both Leon and Grace struggle with their own personal guilt throughout Resident Evil Requiem's story. However, both find redemption in different ways. Leon now leaves Raccoon City with memories of victory instead of regret, providing some much-needed inner healing. Grace returns to her job at the FBI and is able to adopt a now-cured Emily, the little girl from the Rhodes Chronic Care Facility. It's an emotional full-circle moment that now puts her in Alyssa's shoes.
The Bad Ending: The ARK begins to self-destruct after putting in the wrong password, but Grace is able to escape. However, Leon is left to fight Zeno. The latter easily overpowers the sick Leon and shoots him in the head, killing him. The ARK platform crumbles, and the two fall into the abyss.
That Happiness May Not Last For Long, Though
A brief ending cutscene shows a group of mysterious armored soldiers exploring the ARK rubble. Their identity is unknown, but one states that they're working to obtain the "objective" before the "wolves" show up first. This likely means that the ARK holds more secrets than just Elpis. The "wolves" probably refer to Chris Redfield's Hound Wolf Squad. There's no way to know for sure at this point, but this scene definitely feels like the next Resident Evil game could be setting up a Chris Redfield-led story that potentially features Leon as a partner.
Resident Evil Requiem
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