Bungie Unfolds The Final Shape in Destiny 2

In addition, the studio revealed Season of the Witch, the new Season in Destiny 2, which launches worldwide today. Season of the Witch will see Guardians turn to their long-time ally Eris Morn, as they work together to wield arcane Hive magic in order to follow the trail left behind by The Witness when it entered the Traveler.

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.

Enter Episodes

As part of the Showcase, Bungie detailed its new Episodes content format for Destiny 2, which will begin in March 2024 shortly after the launch of The Final Shape. Replacing the current seasonal model, Episodes represent an entirely new approach to storytelling and content. There will be three separate Episodes in 2024 – titled Echoes, Revenant, and Heresy respectively – with the first Episode launching in March. Each Episode will be a standalone story told in three Acts, exploring the aftermath and fallout of the events of the conclusion of the Light and Darkness saga, while also introducing more content and rewards, more often than previous Destiny 2 Seasons.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape Available for Pre-Order Now
Destiny 2: The Final Shape will be available in three different editions, all of which are available now for pre-order.

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

Destiny 2: The Final Shape will launch on February 27, 2024.

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.
Season of the Witch launches today and will end on November 28.

In addition, The Witch Queen expansion will be on sale from August 22  – September 5, and the expansion available for PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium members beginning on August 15^th.