End of Abyss has two endings: the normal ending and a secret ending. To get the secret one, find all eight Data Shards (stored in Data Storage Units), deliver them to the Mainframe in Lower Levels B3, then defeat the final boss, the Fractured Being. Beat the final boss once before you deliver the shards: if all eight are delivered before your first kill, that kill gives the secret ending and you lose the normal ending and its achievement on that save. The shards need the Incinerator, Explosive Charges and the Grappling Hook, so most are post-game backtracking.
The safe order for both endings
- Play the story normally and defeat the Fractured Being north of the Neural Chamber without delivering any shards. You get the normal ending and the You Did It achievement.
- Load the post-game save and collect all eight Data Shards. Finding them all unlocks Defragmented.
- Deliver the shards to the Mainframe on Lower Levels B3.
- Fight the Fractured Being again. This time you get the secret ending and The End.
Guides disagree on one detail: some say it is enough to have all eight shards before the final fight, others say you must deliver them to the Mainframe first. Delivering them covers both cases. Either way, doing the normal ending first is the only way to see both on one save.
All 8 Data Shard locations
| # | Area | You need | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower Levels F1 | Incinerator | Burn the Parasitic Growth just east of the southeast elevator, then follow the path south and west to a small room. |
| 2 | Habitation Sector F1 | Explosive Charge, Security Guard and Security Chief Keycards | Guard keycard: blow the weak wall left of the Containment Sector shuttle (F2) and search the body. Chief keycard: on a table on Habitation B1. Both open doors near the Vault. |
| 3 | Ventilation Tunnels F3 | Explosive Charge, Grappling Hook, Ventilation Maintenance Key | The key is on F4 at the end of a long vent route. The shard is behind the locked northwest door on F3. |
| 4 | Factory West | Explosive Charge, Grappling Hook, Executive Level Access Keycard | Take the keycard from crates in Outer Sector B2, then ride the elevator on Factory West F2 to the boardroom. |
| 5 | Reactor B1 | Grappling Hook, Underbelly Keycard | Drain the Waterworks and reactor systems, take the Underbelly Keycard from a locker on Reactor B5. The shard is at the base of the reactor. |
| 6 | Waterworks B3 | Sewer Workshop Key | After the Drowned Husk, calm the water with the terminal and take the key from the west room. |
| 7 | Containment Sector F3 | Explosive Charge, Grappling Hook, Storage Room Key | The key is in a corridor on Containment B1; use it on F2 to reach F3. |
| 8 | Lower Levels B4 | Incinerator | Burn the Parasitic Growth in the middle of the floor to reach an alcove; take the stairs west of the Mainframe floor. |
Shard 5 overlaps with the route to the optional Severed Husk Centipede, so do both in one trip. See the Centipede Husk guide.
Ending achievements
| Achievement | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| You Did It | Finish the game with the normal ending |
| The End | Finish the game with the secret ending |
| Defragmented | Collect all eight Data Shards |
| Refractured | Defeat the Fractured Being |
| Completionist | Scan everything, including all 107 Logbook entries |
Update 1.014 adds unique enemies to the Logbook automatically when you defeat them, which helps with Completionist. See the patch notes.
What the secret ending changes (no spoilers)
Both endings come after the same final fight, so the difference is in what happens afterwards. The Data Shards are the facility's records, and delivering them lets the story answer more of what happened down there. We keep the ending itself spoiler-free; for the story context, read End of Abyss ending explained.
Frequently asked questions
How many endings does End of Abyss have?
Two: the normal ending and the secret ending.
Can I still get the secret ending after the credits?
Yes. The post-game save lets you finish collecting the shards and re-fight the final boss. That is the recommended way to do it.
Are the Data Shards missable?
No. They stay in the world after the credits, and every area can be revisited.
How long does the secret ending add?
It depends on how much you explored. Expect a few extra hours of backtracking on top of the main story; see how long to beat.
This page only uses details from official store pages, developer statements and hands-on press previews. Anything unconfirmed before the October 1, 2026 launch is left out and will be added once verified. Last research pass: October 9, 2026.
Sources
References and further reading for this article.
