Resident Evil Requiem Ending Breakdown: The Road to Resident Evil 10

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The latest installment, Resident Evil Requiem, brings Raccoon City’s story full circle, resolving many of the mysteries built up in the trailers. It also hints at exciting possibilities for the future of the series, including potential downloadable content that might surprise you. Let’s break down the ending: What exactly is Elpis? Why is Grace so crucial to the story? And what long-hidden secret does Raccoon City hold?

Be warned: major spoilers ahead! This discussion reveals key plot points and major surprises from the game. If you haven’t played yet, stop reading now—this is your final chance to avoid them.

Alright, let’s talk about Elpis. Many people, even characters within the game, believed it was a dangerous virus created by Oswell Spencer – a bioweapon that could upset global power. Victor Gideon and Zeno, working for The Connections, are frantically trying to find it. But surprisingly, Elpis isn’t a virus at all – it’s a cure-all. It completely neutralizes all viruses and viral bioweapons, including the infamous T-Virus.

Spencer, a key founder of the Umbrella Corporation, created Elpis. Surprisingly, he later regretted his life’s work and the harm it caused. He shared this with Alyssa Ashcroft in a video interview, likely a few years before he passed away.

What role does Grace play in the mystery of Elpis? Surprisingly, she isn’t the key. As Spencer pointed out, she’s a seemingly normal girl, though her story is more complex than it appears. Spencer took her in as a baby as a way to atone for his past actions. While still focused on the idea of human evolution, he ultimately states he’s said everything he needs to and hopes his explanation will honor those who are gone.

It turns out Raccoon City held another secret: a hidden lab under the orphanage – the one RPD Chief Brian Irons used for Sherry Birkin. This lab, called ARK, was where Spencer conducted his highly secretive research and created Elpis, away from public view.

The story of Resident Evil Requiem culminates in Grace facing a critical decision: release Elpis or destroy it. If she chooses to release it, Zeno attempts to inject it into himself, hoping to gain more power. However, Elpis actually cures him of his infection – the very thing that gave him his incredible speed and strength. Surprisingly, Gideon – who Leon previously thought he’d eliminated during a chase through the ruins of Raccoon City – reappears. He commends Spencer, explaining that Elpis could throw the world into chaos and disrupt the existing military order.

Zeno doesn’t have time to protest before Gideon swiftly beheads him. As Gideon tries to take Elpis, Grace manages to inject Leon, healing him and bringing him back into the battle. Leon then fights Gideon, who transforms into a powerful, monstrous creature. However, Leon doesn’t need a heavy weapon to win – after weakening Gideon, a few shots from the Requiem, finished with a flourish, are enough to defeat him.

Things are falling apart for Leon and Grace, and it looks like they’re in serious trouble. Just when it seems hopeless, the Hound Wolf Squad arrives – though Chris Redfield isn’t with them, he sends his best wishes.

After Grace has a good conversation with Leon, a mysterious pair report they’re nearly finished with their mission, just before a group called the “Wolves” arrives and the BSAA are dealt with. These individuals are likely soldiers working for The Connections, aware of the Hound Wolf Squad’s impending arrival.

Okay, so remember James Marcus, one of the guys who started Umbrella and did those awful experiments on kids? Turns out he was secretly working with this group called The Connections. Old man Spencer tried to shut him down and even had him killed, but the damage was done – they’d already gotten inside Umbrella. And that whole story about Brandon Bailey, Marcus’s student, starting The Connections after Marcus died and getting kicked out of Umbrella? That wasn’t true. Instead, Bailey just stepped into Marcus’s role as the main guy working for The Connections, helping them from the inside.

Spencer had surprisingly little control over his own company and spent most of his time at ARK, secretly developing Elpis. It was clear someone desperately wanted Elpis, and they’d go to any lengths to get—and keep—it, even destroying an entire city. Later revealed to have significant influence over the US government, this group—known as The Connections—was responsible for the bombing of Raccoon City. The goal wasn’t to stop the outbreak, as the surviving zombies prove, but to cover up the existence of Elpis and damage the relationship between Umbrella and the government.

As everyone knows, Spencer and the Umbrella Corporation were held responsible for the outbreak, leading to Umbrella’s eventual bankruptcy. Albert Wesker famously presented evidence during the trials, all while secretly working with TRICELL, a company also linked to a larger, shadowy organization known as The Connections.

After Raccoon City was abandoned, a group known as The Connections took advantage of the situation to spread bioweapons using a system called ARK. Evidence shows they supplied weapons to Umbrella, Tricell, and even HCF, a division of Umbrella’s competitor. They also conducted significant research and manufacturing, which accounts for the bio-organic weapons still roaming the area.

Their primary objective was to reach Elpis, but it was protected by a password. A single incorrect attempt would mean permanent loss of access. When they discovered Grace, they began searching for her, convinced she held the key to unlocking Elpis.

When creating exact duplicates of Grace proved impossible, they tried the next best thing: making clones. Emily, found at the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, is one of these clones and has lost her vision. However, the initial goal of the experiment wasn’t necessarily to create individuals with disabilities.

While Spencer still made regular visits to the Orphanage, Umbrella created clones infected with the T-Virus for their experiments. It’s unclear if these clones were used to develop Elpis, but records show the Series 60 Clones became violently unstable and attacked the researchers. One clone, named Chloe, managed to escape and discovered the truth about her creation. However, she was subdued and, because she showed symptoms of infection, was marked for termination.

Grace is unique among the clones because she wasn’t infected with anything. Oswell told Alyssa that she’s completely normal and wasn’t one of his test subjects – Zeno confirmed this. After she went missing, The Connections kept making copies, hoping to replicate whatever made her able to access Elpis without understanding how. As Zeno put it, this resulted in a lot of unsuccessful attempts.

Leon is caught up in this because he, like Sherry Birkin, is infected with Raccoon City Syndrome. This illness happens when the T-Virus stays in someone’s system for a long time, eventually weakening their immune defenses. After learning about other survivors who died with similar symptoms, Leon starts investigating, which leads him to Gideon, a care center called Rhodes Hill, and finally, the ARK. When he meets up with Grace and they escape, he reveals his infection is now at Stage 3 – meaning it’s terminal and he has only a couple of hours to live. Despite this, he’s determined to keep going, driven by guilt over the events of 30 years ago and his desire to help Sherry.

After Gideon was defeated, he gave Sherry a sample of Elpis, which cured her. But the story didn’t end there. Surprisingly, Emily, who had mutated and been fought by Leon, was still alive – Leon had managed to avoid any fatal blows. She also received Elpis and was cured, regaining her vision and now living with Grace. Sadly, this all but confirms that the mysterious stalker pursuing Grace, known as The Girl, was a failed clone and couldn’t be saved.

Okay, so imagine the worst-case scenario: Grace decides to just destroy Elpis instead of releasing it. That makes Zeno super mad, and things go downhill fast. The ARK starts falling apart, and Leon actually attacks Zeno to buy Grace some time to escape. He gets her to safety, but then stays behind to fight – though it’s more like he’s getting completely destroyed by Zeno. Zeno eventually kills Leon, though what happens to Zeno himself is left a mystery. Grace gets away, sobbing, and you see Raccoon City burning in the distance. It’s a seriously depressing ending, and thankfully, it’s not part of the main story at all.

You might be asking who Zeno is. He’s voiced by Craig Burnatowski, who also played Wesker in the Resident Evil 4 Remake, but Gideon refers to him as an “imitation.” While he may be connected to Project W, possibly as a survivor like Albert and Alex, this isn’t confirmed. We only know he’s a high-ranking member of The Connections. As for Victor Gideon, he’s exactly what he claims to be: a former Umbrella researcher fixated on Spencer’s legacy and finding Elpis. The biggest surprise is that he wasn’t infected like everyone else. His mutations closely resemble those of Nemesis from Resident Evil 3 Remake, suggesting he might have been carrying an NE-α Type parasite.

Now that we’ve covered everything, let’s think about where the story might go next. A recent conversation between Sherry and Leon suggests the BSAA is facing pressure from the Pentagon, and the North American division seems to be operating on its own. This could be connected to the events at the end of Village, where Chris and his team discovered the BSAA had sent bio-weapons into the conflict without authorization.

Man, I’ve been thinking about Chris and his team’s trip to that European HQ years ago. A DLC going back to that time and letting us play through it from his point of view would be awesome! It could really explain why the BSAA was even in Raccoon City in the first place, beyond just them searching for Elpis and then, you know, getting wrecked by Zeno.

One interesting idea is a side story centered around the character HUNK. He unexpectedly appears to battle Leon in the ARK level, putting up a strong fight before seemingly being defeated – but is he truly gone? A downloadable story exploring how he ended up there, and what he’s been doing since the Raccoon City incident (even if he’s connected to The Connections), would be a cool addition. It could be a single scenario culminating in another fight with Leon, and perhaps even offer a different outcome if HUNK wins. Considering how popular HUNK is, it’s a possibility the developers might consider.

It’s difficult to say where the story of Resident Evil will head next, but we’ve already started planning DLC and a sequel. The ending, with those soldiers claiming to have defeated the BSAA and now seeking their “objective,” is a key hint at what’s to come.

What exactly are they trying to get? It could be leftover Elpis supplies, research data, or even biological material from important subjects like Zeno or Victor. It might even be something designed to counteract Elpis. The soldiers also mention a unit called the Wolves, which directly links back to Chris Redfield. This suggests a potential future story expansion set in Raccoon City, where Chris and Jill Valentine could reunite to either obtain or eliminate this mysterious objective.

Since Resident Evil 7, Chris and his team have been investigating a group called the Connections. With a Wesker clone appearing in the recent story, a battle between Chris and Zeno is a highly anticipated event, echoing Chris’s fight with Wesker in Resident Evil 5. Interestingly, we don’t actually get to fight Zeno in the main game, suggesting this could be saved for downloadable content. The game also leaves open the possibility of exploring more of the ruined Raccoon City in future DLC, perhaps including locations like the Clock Tower. Given that Mr. X has returned, fans are also wondering if Nemesis might make an appearance as well.

Seeing Nemesis and Jill face off again would be a treat for fans and would fit well in a smaller, side story. It’s becoming clear that Resident Evil: Requiem is building towards a downloadable expansion focused on Chris, potentially with Jill as a teammate, and also laying the foundation for Resident Evil 10. The story could involve a failed operation in the DLC, allowing the Connections to reclaim what everyone was after, which would then become the central conflict in the next main game. While this approach might rely heavily on pleasing fans, Requiem already did that successfully.

The way Elpis completely eliminates virus-based weapons feels like the developers are starting with a clean slate, opening up new options for the future. It’s important to remember that not all bio-organic weapons rely on viruses. If the endings of the RE4 Remake and Separate Ways are considered official – and you should – then Ada Wong is still out there with an Amber containing a powerful parasite.

Okay, I was a little bummed not seeing characters like Claire, Jill, and Rebecca in the main game, but it actually makes sense. I get why the developers might want to tell stories that happen before the events of the current game, or even fill in gaps between other games. That way, they avoid messing up established storylines and keep everything consistent, which is smart. It gives them room to explore without worrying about retcons!

The different situations these characters are in might impact the story, but because they aren’t directly involved (like Chris), it won’t change the main storyline. However, there should be some mention of Claire and Jill, and possibly Ada, since they could all be suffering from the effects of the Raccoon City incident.

You might be asking about Derek C. Simmons and the Family – did Simmons suggest bombing Raccoon City, and what role did the Family play? The truth is, we don’t have answers. Neither is mentioned in the game ‘Requiem,’ likely because the developers are hesitant to drastically alter the established storyline, particularly after the remakes. It’s possible the Family is simply another group manipulated by The Connections, or even one of their allies, at least publicly. Reliable sources suggest the upcoming DLC will focus solely on Leon, but the location remains a mystery.

Leon’s story seems to be finished in the game Requiem, though there might be some loose ends that could connect him to other characters later on. We know he’s married, but his wife’s identity is still a mystery. It’s interesting to note that early versions of the game apparently included Ada and Jill, but those plans were ultimately cut. But getting back to what we were discussing…

Rumors suggest remakes of Resident Evil – Code: Veronica and Resident Evil Zero are being developed, so we might see even more connections to the overarching storyline. Since Zero heavily features Marcus – and a creature imitating him – this seems likely. However, it’s still unclear what direction the next major Resident Evil game will take.

Grace is a fantastic addition to the Resident Evil universe. She’d be a great main character, particularly after what she went through in Raccoon City, if the series ever leans more heavily into horror. Alternatively, her skills in analysis and connections with the FBI make her well-suited for a supporting role. Hopefully, she’ll get more opportunities to stand out than Sherry Birkin did.

For now, Resident Evil Requiem feels like a fitting end to the story of Raccoon City. Although it sets the stage for future events – especially with the discovery of Elpis likely triggering a new wave of bioweapons development – it was great to return to iconic locations and see familiar faces, even if some were hostile.

I expect we’ll see more stories added as downloadable content based on these events, but overall, this feels like the end of Raccoon City’s story. Continuing to reveal new, previously unknown labs after all this time would probably be too much.

The opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2026-03-16 15:45