Destiny 2

## *Destiny 2* / *Destiny 2: New Light*

Cover art of the game's standard edition, featuring the three player classes (from right to left), Hunter, Titan and Warlock; behind them is the Traveler

### Publisher

Activision (2017-2019)
Bungie (since 2019)

### Director

Christopher Barrett
Luke Smith
Ryan Ellis

### Designer

Del Chafe III
M.E. Chung
Tyson Green
Sage Merrill
Christopher Opdahl
James Tsai
Gavin Ibry

### Artist

Shiek Wang
Michael Zak

### Writer

Jason Harris
Christine Thompson

### Composer(s)

Michael Salvatori
Skye Lewin
C Paul Johnson

### Platforms

PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
PC
Xbox One
Xbox Series X&S
Stadia

### Release

**PlayStation 4** / **Xbox One**:
September 6, 2017

**PC**:
October 24, 2017

**Stadia**:
November 19, 2019

**PlayStation 5** / **Xbox Series X&S**:
December 8, 2020

### Genre(s)

First-person shooter, action role-playing

### Mode(s)

multiplayer

***Destiny 2***, also known since 2019 as ***Destiny 2: new Light***, is a 2017 multiplayer-only first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and originally published by Activision; since 2019, the game is published by Bungie. It was originally released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with a delayed PC release in 2017. Subsequent re-releases saw *Destiny 2* for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Stadia. It is the sequel to 2014's *Destiny* and the second installment in the *Destiny* series.

Set in a "mythic science fiction" universe 700 years into the future, *Destiny 2* takes place a year after the events of *Rise of Iron*, the last expansion for its predecessor. Players take the role of Guardians, protectors of the last safe City on earth who are tasked with defending humanity from various external threats from hostile alien factions and the Darkness, a malevolent force. As with its predecessor, *Destiny 2* is a multiplayer "shared world" first-person shooter with heavy focus on action role-playing elements. The game includes a variety of modes for both player versus environment (PvE) and player versus player (PvP) activities. One of the sequel's core additions is expanded exploration and ability to interact with non-playable characters.

Plans for a *Destiny* sequel were revealed by Activision shortly after the first game launched, part of the original, ten-year, four-title contract between Bungie and Activision. As the original game was criticized for its shallow narrative, one focus for Bungie was to develop a more involved story with *Destiny 2* while also deepening its worldbuilding, which was considered to be superficial in the first game. Bungie further confirmed the game's existence in 2016 after it was internally delayed to 2017. Marketing rights were handled by Sony Interactive Entertainment in exchange for exclusive bonus content for the PlayStation 4 version. Beginning October 2019, the game transitioned from a retail release to a free-to-play model under the title *New Light*, which allows players to purchase battle passes and expansion packs. Later changes in the game saw the removal of older content within the "Destiny Content Vault" due to the game's increasing size.

*Destiny 2* received positive reviews upon its release, with critics largely seeing the initial product as more polished and expanded in comparison to the original game's launch, particularly in regards for its initial narrative. Praise was directed at its streamlined improvements over 2014's *Destiny*, visuals, art direction, combat mechanics, controls, increased exploration and social aspects. Criticism was directed at its microtransaction implementation and weapon recategorization, while reviews were divided on the new game modes and whether the title was a significant evolution of *Destiny*; later criticism focused on Bungie's handling of legacy content and the intimidating design for newcomers. The original retail version of *Destiny 2* was a commercial success and one of 2017's best-selling titles.

Since its release, *Destiny 2* has been supported by expansion packs, seasonal updates and additions, including *Curse of Osiris* (2017), *Warmind* (2018), *Forsaken* (2018), *Shadowkeep* (2019), *Beyond Light* (2020), *The Witch Queen* (2022) and *Lightfall* (2023). This will be followed by *The Final Shape* (2024), set to conclude the series' current "Light and Darkness Saga" story arc.