Bungie’s annual Destiny 2 Showcase revealed a stunning first look at The Final Shape expansion, along with details on the new season, upcoming changes, and more!
If you’ve been anxious for more Destiny 2 news, this morning’s showcase brought plenty of excitement. First of all, let’s talk about The Final Shape, which will serve as a finale for this storytelling era and bring the War of Light and Darkness to an end.
In Destiny 2: The Final Shape, Guardians will confront oblivion in the form of their ultimate adversary –The Witness – alongside their iconic Vanguard companions: Ikora Rey, Commander Zavala, and the mysteriously returned Cayde-6. Players will embark on a perilous journey of remembrance and discovery into the heart of the Traveler, rally the Vanguard, and end the War of Light and Darkness. The story of this final confrontation will be told throughout the course of The Final Shape’s campaign, as well as in the new raid that will launch in March 2024.
Accompanying the launch of the raid will be a new World First Race, beginning the day of the raid’s launch. Fireteams around the world will compete to be the first six-Guardian team to fully complete the new raid.
Into The Traveler
During the campaign of The Final Shape, Guardians will explore a mysterious new destination – The Pale Heart, located inside the Traveler. Shaped by The Witness but also influenced by the history and journey of the Guardians themselves, The Pale Heart destination will feature nostalgic callbacks from throughout the history of the Light and Darkness Saga, including a version of the original Tower from Destiny. As the first linear destination in Destiny history, The Pale Heart will also gradually evolve.
Alongside a new campaign and a new destination, as well as a reunion of iconic characters who have gathered to face the threat of The Witness together, The Final Shape expansion will offer players new offensive capabilities in the form of three new Super abilities and Aspects (Void for Titans, Solar for Warlocks, and Arc for Hunters), each developed with teamplay in mind. Further, new additions to the Destiny 2 arsenal will make Guardians even more imposing, including a new weapon subfamily that includes the Rocket Pistol Sidearm and a new Support Frame Auto Rifle that can deal damage while healing allies. Additionally, classic weapons from the original Destiny will return, and a new Exotic Fusion Rifle, among others.
Guardians will put these tools to use against an imposing new enemy type – Subjugators – who are able to use Stasis and Strand powers against Guardians while also adding an element of control to the battlefield.
Destiny 2 developers also detailed features coming to the game in the next year, including an improved Power system that will make it easier for players of different Power levels to take part in activities together, the upcoming Fireteam Finder feature (coming in November 2023) designed to help players find fellow Guardians to play with in activities across the game, as well as PvP updates including a new Vex-themed map called Multiplex, a new Relic-based game mode, and the new Checkmate modifier.
Before the opening of today’s Showcase event, a moment of silence was observed for Lance Reddick, who passed away in March. Reddick’s dignified portrayal as the English language voice actor of Zavala made an inspiring fan-favorite character in the Destiny universe. Earlier this month, Bungie announced that film and television actor Keith David would take over the role of Zavala, allowing the character’s story to continue in The Final Shape. In addition, film and television actor Nathan Fillion announced his return to the Destiny franchise as the voice of the Hunter Vanguard Cayde-6 in May of this year.
On top of this trailer/details, Bungie also revealed a swanky collector’s edition for Destiny 2: The Final Shape.
Standard Edition
The Destiny 2: The Final Shape Standard Edition includes:New Campaign + Legendary Mode
New Raid
New Episode: Echoes
Instant unlocks with pre-order:
Exotic Ghost
Expansion Emblem
Destiny 2: The Final Shape + Annual Pass Edition
The Destiny 2: The Final Shape + Annual Pass Edition includes:New Campaign + Legendary Mode
New Raid
Three Episodes: Echoes, Revenant, Heresy
Tessellation Exotic Fusion Rifle, Catalyst, and Ornament
The Final Shape Dungeon Key (two dungeons)
Exotic Sparrow
Secret Stash (one per Episode)
3 Ascendant Alloys
4 Ascendant Shards
1 Exotic Cipher
7 Upgrade Modules
1 Exotic Item (either a Ship, Ghost, or Sparrow)
Instant unlocks with pre-order:
Tessellation Exotic Fusion Rifle
Exotic Emote
Exotic Ghost
Expansion Emblem
Destiny 2: The Final Shape Collector’s Edition
The Destiny 2: The Final Shape Collector’s Edition is available for pre-order now and includes all the content in the Destiny 2: The Final Shape + Annual Pass Edition as well as the following:Replica model of the original Tower from Destiny, featuring LED lights and sounds
Vanguard mentor figurines
Vanguard mission dossier and patch
Autograph book
Code for exclusive Destiny 2 emblem
Digital version of Destiny 2: The Final Shape original soundtrack
For current players, today also brings about the Season of the Witch (which will run through November 28th) and brings new story and quality of life upgrades.
Destiny 2’s newest season – Season of the Witch – launches today. In Season of the Witch, Guardians will continue their ongoing pursuit of The Witness, and will confront old allies and enemies along the way. Savathûn’s ghost Immaru proposes a deal: aid in the resurrection of The Witch Queen and help defeat her sister, Xivu Arath. In exchange, Savathûn will reveal the key to the portal through the Traveler where The Witness is preparing to enact The Final Shape. Guardians will harness arcane Hive magic as they help their ally Eris Morn prepare for the showdown against the Hive god of war by transforming into a Hive god herself.
Key to Season of the Witch is the new Deck of Whispers, a new method of player progression that allows Guardians to customize their loadouts and powers in new ways. By completing Seasonal activities, players earn cards that can be used to build a customized deck full of buffs and perks for certain activities. Players in fireteams have the option to carefully strategize which cards they bring along to maximize their battle effectiveness on each run.
Time To Reflect
Alongside the adventure and action in Season of the Witch, the Destiny 2 development team is launching several new quality-of-life features to the game, designed to improve the experience of Guardians across the game. Among these key features is Timeline Reflections. These short playable missions, accessible through the Timeline feature in the Director, offer brief narrative introductions and summaries of key narrative events from Destiny 2 and are intended to help new players catch up with the ongoing story and to allow experienced players to relive and enjoy moments from the past.
With the launch of Season of the Witch, three Timeline Reflections missions are available, including Cayde-6’s final showdown with the Scorn from Destiny 2: Forsaken, the debut of Stasis from Destiny 2: Beyond Light, and the introduction of the Lucent Hive from Destiny 2: The Witch Queen. These missions are available to all players at no additional charge.
Reprised Raid: Crota’s End
Season of the Witch will also bring with it a reprised raid from Destiny’s past: Crota’s End. Originally released shortly after the launch of the original Destiny in 2014, Crota’s End finds Guardians braving the Lunar landscape to enter the Hellmouth and confront Oryx’s son once and for all.
Crota’s End will launch on September 1 and Bungie will be celebrating with a World First Race to recognize and reward the first fireteam to successfully complete the reprised raid. Fireteams all over the world will have 48 hours to complete the raid in Contest Mode, complete the Crota’s End Challenge Mode, and earn the Superior Swordplay Triumph. The first fireteam to finish every encounter, loot the final chest, and return to orbit after completing Challenge Mode will be declared World First and have their victory immortalized with Crota’s End World First raid belts.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape launches on February 27, 2024.
