As far back as I can remember Bungie reveals have got my blood pumping. With Destiny 2 and Halo being the absolute peaks of what they have to showcase. I am a Destiny addict. And discussing that with people almost makes it feel like I’m sitting in an AA meeting admitting my deepest shames from the world of video games. But the experience of completing a contest day one raid is something unparalleled in gaming. So, every year I wait eagerly for the next announcement with enthusiasm as I know I’m going to sink more hours into the game and have a damn good time doing it. Even if, not everything lands the way community and I would like.

Since the release of the climactic finale of the 10-year light and darkness saga sentiment towards Destiny and Bungie has been turbulent to say the least. The last year has been plagued with replaceable episodic content which we all expect will be erased from existence at the release of the next expansion. Significant resources have been put towards the development of Marathon, leaving the future of Destiny 2 a concerning mystery. Despite all this I have continued to have fun with my raid team and other friends I have made along the way. But what is next…

Edge of Fate

Bungie recently showed us with a comprehensive preview of upcoming expansions, plans for the games evolution, quality of life changes, and implementation of systems that have been requested endlessly. For the most part it all looks excellent. We are well overdue for a change in the Destiny formula and the end of a saga is the opportunity for this.

Bungie’s newest destination Kepler – drawing from the puzzle solving and exploration elements of the dreaming city – is expected to play like a Metroidvania. Although morphing into a ball and rolling through tight spaces may have been a little on the nose for my liking. A destination that brings some mystery back to Destiny’s stories, its world building, and its characters is just what’s needed to bring back returning players and to act as onboarding for a new wave of guardians.

Couple everything with quality-of-life changes like set bonuses on armour, world tiers for challenging exploration, and a revamped stat system, it seems like a recipe for success. Each new system sounds like it will compliment the excellent, tried and tested gameplay that Bungie are known for creating.

Yet that doesn’t mean everything is sunshine and daisies…

Edge of Catastrophe

Towards the end of the reveal stream Bungie showcased a teaser trailer for the second expansion of the year, Renegades. I can imagine this trailer is going to be very divisive. On the one hand, Star Wars. Another beloved franchise through which Bungie have seen success with their recent suite of cosmetics releasing earlier in Episode: Heresy. On the other hand, these cosmetics already highlight a larger issue at hand when mixing Destiny with an alternate universe.

Destiny is built on a distinct and beautiful art style. Each skybox is breathtaking and unique. The character design is an eclectic blend of sci-fi and high fantasy.  Each of its raids and dungeons presents a new mystery to explore, with each being impossible to compare to each other and to other games.

We don’t know what Renegades will be like, we’ve only seen a very brief teaser trailer after all. However, basing the upcoming expansion in the lore of a different universe limits creativity, in the same way that rehashing raid and story content is an inferior design philosophy to creating new and exciting experiences. Tatooine on the destination screen, lightsabers as heavy or special weapons, and more cosmetics based in the Star Wars universe just seem like unnecessary and unwanted additions to the game. Where in its stead we could be getting something dreamt by the minds that created the Last Wish, Wrath of the Machine, and Salvations Edge raids.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Star Wars. I was brought up sitting and watching the original trilogy on repeat, queuing to see first showing of the later released films and even sticking with some of the less-than-popular shows and films offered up recently. I just feel this type of crossover would lend itself more to a special event rather than one of the major two expansion in a year where Destiny 2 seriously needs to stick the landing.

Edge of a Precipice

Bungie are currently spinning a lot of plates what with Marathon’s reveal and alpha, upcoming Destiny 2 expansions, a year (or more) of layoff issues, and generally tumultuous community sentiment.

I am confident Bungie’s ability as a studio to put off something excellent over the next few years. Two major expansion per year, more focussed content, and all devoid of the seasonal filler that the community resents so much. It’s very exciting. But we have been burned before.

We will have to wait and see, as Bungie’s fate has yet to be determined.

Destiny 2: Edge of Fate releases on 15th July 2025