Destiny 2's future revealed: here's everything from Bungie's big June 9 presentation
From three expansions to returning Destiny 1 content
Bungie's June 9 Destiny 2 stream was a whopper of a reveal, not only launching a surprise dungeon for Season 11 but also outlining the next three years of expansion. It's a lot to take in, so we've collected the most important announcements below, with links to more detailed breakdowns. Before that, though, it's important to remember how Bungie began its stream: with a moment of silence for George Floyd and a Black Lives Matter tribute which encouraged viewers to find ways to support the movement.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light
The next big expansion is Destiny 2: Beyond Light, coming September 22. It will kick off Year 4 of Destiny 2, which will feature four more seasons of content. It comes with a new icy destination called Europa, where you, Eris Morn, the Drifter, and the Exo Stranger will work to overcome a new Fallen antagonist: Eramis, the Kell of Darkness. Europa is also home to a new raid in the Deep Stone Crypt. Beyond Light will also introduce Stasis, a new energy type fueled by the Darkness which will add new subclasses for all classes.
The Witch Queen and Lightfall
Beyond Light is more than just the next expansion; it's also the first expansion in a trilogy of releases which will set the pace for Destiny 2 for the next three years. After Beyond Light in 2020, we'll get The Witch Queen in 2021 and Lightfall in 2022. This is the first time Bungie's revealed multiple expansions ahead of time, and it's the first set of directly connected expansions in the game's history.
The Destiny Content Vault
To reinforce its long-term commitment to Destiny 2, Bungie announced a new system of content rotation called the Destiny Content Vault. The studio will use this system to remove old, underplayed content from Destiny 2 and replace it with new content, both from expansions, seasons, and from Destiny 1. Yes, activities and destinations from the original Destiny are coming to Destiny 2, starting with the Cosmodrome this September, and the Vault of Glass raid later in Year 4.
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The Prophecy
Season 11, the Season of Arrivals, started with a bang thanks to a surprise dungeon called Prophecy. It dives into the lore of the Nine, it's got super trippy art and music, and it looks like one of this season's cornerstone activities. Prophecy is available to all players, including New Light-only users, starting today, June 9.
Free PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrades
Bungie confirmed Destiny 2 for PS5 and Xbox Series X several weeks ago, but it didn't outline its plans until now. The next-gen version of the game will run at 4K 60FPS, Bungie says, and it will be a free upgrade for PS4 and Xbox One owners. As long as you stay in the same console family, you won't need to repurchase any expansions, either - including Beyond Light. Destiny 2 will also support cross-gen crossplay, and Bungie's aiming for full cross-platform multiplayer in 2021.
Austin freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree, and he's been with 12DOVE since 2019. They've yet to realize that his position as a senior writer is just a cover up for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a focus on news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.