What to know
- The vinyl choice happens during the “Mystery in the Building” main mission
- It does not change the story or lead to alternate outcomes
- You must interact with multiple records to progress
- The correct vinyl is found inside Yvonne’s lab, not from the first prompt
In Arknights Endfield, many interactions are deliberately framed as player choices even when they’re really narrative devices. One of the most talked-about examples is the vinyl selection scene involving Yvonne, which has caused confusion for players who expect a permanent or meaningful branch. In reality, this moment is a mandatory progression gate, designed to show Yvonne’s personality rather than test player judgment.
This guide explains where the vinyl choice happens, what the game expects you to do, and why no option actually locks you out of progress.
Where the vinyl choice appears in the story
The vinyl interaction takes place during the “Mystery in the Building” main mission, one of the early narrative-heavy quests that blends exploration, character development, and light puzzle progression.
During this mission, you’re sent into the Research Center, where you eventually enter Yvonne’s lab. This area is not a combat space at first. Instead, it’s a character-focused environment meant to slow the pacing and establish Yvonne’s quirks.
Once inside the lab, Yvonne asks you to play some music using a vinyl player located in the room. This is where the so-called “vinyl choice” begins.
How the vinyl choice actually works
At first glance, the game presents the interaction like a genuine decision. You’re shown a set of vinyl records placed to one side of the room and prompted to choose one to play.
You can select options that are described along the lines of:
- A retro-style vinyl
- A newer, modern record
No matter which of these you pick, the outcome is the same. Yvonne reacts with dissatisfaction, making it clear that the selection doesn’t match her taste. Importantly, this is intentional. The game is not punishing you for choosing “wrong”; it’s guiding you toward the next step.
The scene is structured so that both initial choices are incorrect by design.
Finding the correct vinyl
After Yvonne reacts negatively, the mission does not fail and you’re not locked out. Instead, control returns to you with the expectation that you’ll continue exploring the lab.
Elsewhere in the room, you’ll find another vinyl record that better aligns with Yvonne’s preferences. Interacting with this second vinyl and playing it is mandatory to proceed.
Once this record is played:
- Yvonne responds positively
- The dialogue continues naturally
- The mission advances without any alternate branches
This confirms that the vinyl “choice” is not a real decision point, but a scripted narrative beat.
Quick breakdown of the vinyl interaction
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Enter Yvonne’s lab | Music interaction is introduced |
| First vinyl selection | Always rejected by Yvonne |
| Exploration continues | Player is prompted implicitly to search more |
| Correct vinyl played | Required to progress the mission |
| Story outcome | Mission continues normally |
What the vinyl scene leads to
After the correct record is played, a short dialogue or cutscene plays where Yvonne becomes more cooperative. This directly sets up the next phase of the mission, where she agrees to assist with repairing Tata, a prototype tied to the mission’s core conflict.
From there, the quest transitions away from narrative interaction and back into:
- Repair-related objectives
- Combat encounters
- Standard mission flow
Nothing about Yvonne’s long-term behavior, affinity, or story path changes based on the vinyl interaction.
Why this isn’t a real choice
From a design perspective, this moment serves three purposes:
First, it reinforces Yvonne’s personality. She’s particular, opinionated, and emotionally driven by small details like music.
Second, it encourages environmental exploration. Endfield frequently uses “failed” interactions to push players to look around instead of following the first prompt blindly.
Third, it controls pacing. The game briefly slows you down before escalating into combat and technical objectives.
There are no hidden consequences, no missable flags, and no alternate endings tied to this scene.
Common player concerns cleared up
| Concern | Reality |
|---|---|
| Can you pick the wrong vinyl permanently? | No |
| Does this affect Yvonne later? | No |
| Can the mission soft-lock here? | No |
| Is there a hidden reward for first choice? | No |
If you ever feel stuck during this section, the solution is simply to keep interacting with objects in the lab until the correct vinyl appears.
Does the Vinyl choice matter for quest
No — Yvonne’s vinyl choice in Mystery in the Building does not meaningfully change the story outcome or have long-term consequences; it’s just part of progressing the mission, not a branching choice with multiple endings.
The Yvonne vinyl scene is a good example of how Arknights: Endfield uses illusion of choice for storytelling, not branching narrative. While it may look like a moment where player preference matters, it’s actually a carefully guided interaction designed to deepen character context and ensure you engage with the environment.
As long as you continue exploring the lab and play the correct record, the mission will always progress the same way.
