Destiny 2 has developed a great story. However, understanding all the connections correctly is not easy. AndyEdition, the German Destiny 2 lore expert, tries to unravel all the puzzles in his videos. MeinMMO conducted an interview with him and talked about the current story in Season 15 and the future of Destiny 2.
The story of Destiny 2 has captivated many players over the years. From heartbreaking moments of betrayal to shadowy scenes of revenge, Guardians have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the story. The unstoppable forces of darkness against the immortal bearers of light. And right in the middle is Savathun, who holds all the strings. She is “The Witch Queen,” the main character in the new expansion that is set to release in February 2022.
The German lore expert AndyEdition is a good resource with his videos for players who want to know more about the story of Destiny 2 – without having to read everything themselves. He attempts to unravel the game, which is notorious for having a story that is hard to understand.
Who is AndyEdition, actually?
- AndyEdition started uploading videos about the stories in Destiny on YouTube at the end of 2016.
- His community grew rapidly, and it soon became clear that he could excite many fans with this.
- He not only has interesting storytelling videos and his own theories about the story but also a special way of reporting on the most exciting things in the Destiny 2 universe.
MeinMMO spoke with him about the development of the current story and his personal intent for this special “shooter-adventure.”
Andy, how did you get into Destiny 2? What specifically drew you to it?
AndyEdition: “I was already a big Destiny 1 fan and played it since the beta. When Destiny 2 was announced, there was no doubt that I would play it from the first minute.”
Many players are fascinated by the Destiny story. Why do you think that is?
AndyEdition: “The developers have finally succeeded after so many years to weave the story with a red thread into the game. Guardians who listen to the dialogues in the game now also understand what is happening, without having to read the lore. The new season model, which has serialized characters since the season of the chosen and is told in a weekly episodic format, definitely contributes to this. It is almost like in the old days when there were no streaming services and we could only watch a new episode of our favorite series on TV each week. The current season also scores points by putting Savathun more into the foreground. She is the Witch Queen of the Hive and has been teased for years.”
What is different about other games compared to Destiny? Is Bungie’s new storytelling approach really that unique?
AndyEdition: It seems to me that Bungie has taken the telltale formula and adapted and optimized it for the Destiny universe. The main story arc is presented in the game, and in the lore texts, you can get additional information or search for hidden clues. Since I don’t know of any game that allows players to experience the story in such a form, I would currently consider it – since the last three seasons – unique.
The Telltale formula describes the interplay between the decisions we make in a game and the resulting effects on the game’s progression. Decisions significantly influence the story and shape its ending. The focal points for this gradual emergence of a personal adventure are the conversations and many small individual sequences.
There are so many lore texts and mini-stories in Destiny 2. A huge universe of red threads that reconnect somewhere. How do you maintain an overview as a Destiny 2 lore expert?
AndyEdition: Honestly, not at all. I have to read things again and again when I research for a video. The Books of Sorrow, for instance, I have read at least ten times, and each time I interpret things differently. The lore texts are structured in such a way that you have to read them repeatedly.
If I can’t engage with Destiny for a while because my personal life, job, family, etc., doesn’t allow it, I always need a little refresher.
You had a period where you stopped making lore videos about Destiny 2, and the German Destiny 2 community really missed you during that time. Afterward, you asked your followers what they still wanted from you. Did you perhaps think about quitting the videos about Destiny 2?
AndyEdition: I must honestly admit that I often thought about quitting YouTube. In my current job, I have early and night shifts. That makes it difficult to find a routine to work on videos. A lore or story video takes a lot of time, which I can’t always find alongside my personal life. Spending every day off or my vacation solely working on videos won’t make me happy either.
On the other hand, I have also thought about quitting my job and making my living from YouTube and Twitch. However, since Destiny, especially in the German-speaking world, does not receive the attention that it does, for instance, in the English-speaking world, it would be a big risk that I am not ready to take at the moment.
Savathun is the Queen of Lies – “Don’t Trust Her!”
Let’s get to the current Destiny 2 story. What do you think as a lore expert: Should we trust Savathun? Where she speaks so trustworthily and clarifies everything more or less?
AndyEdition: Savathun is called the “Queen of Lies” for a reason. No, in my opinion, we should not trust her. I think she has her own goals. She actually has similar characteristics to Mara, the Queen of the Reef. Both want to intervene in the cosmic war between light and darkness, but neither would submit to a side. However, I think we can learn from Savathun if we read between the lines of her lies. She knows much more about the light and the darkness than the Tower and we Guardians know.
You recently published a video where you presented an interesting theory about light and darkness. How the Traveler chooses a Guardian and that Savathun might be after that. Tell us your assessment of Season 15. The best we’ve ever had?
AndyEdition: The Season of the Lost does a lot right. Trials of Osiris is more popular than ever, the Shattered Realm is one of the better PvE activities, if not the best we’ve had this year, and the story is picking up speed. The first weeks with Season 15 were very exciting and kept me glued to the screen for hours each week. Unfortunately, Season 15 is also being stretched, as the “Witch Queen” expansion has been postponed to next year. Thus, we have again 1-2 months without new content and additionally must wait for the finale of the seasonal story. This gives Season 15 a slight dampener, as does every season this year.
Story-wise, we now see how the big players take the stage, Savathun, Mara Sov – the Queen of the Reef, Xivu Arath, and the Entity. The story of Season 15 ties into Forsaken and so far has been the best expansion for Destiny 2, making everything we experience this season so exciting. This prompted me to rewatch all the sequences and read through the lore books we received back then. This led me to the theory of how Savathun could be chosen by the Traveler. If I’m right, we will soon have a different view of our Traveler.
What theory that is, AndyEdition reveals in this video:
The community has greatly discussed the topic of Sagira. Do you believe she was also transformed and is now the reincarnated ghost of Savathun? A certain resemblance cannot be denied.
AndyEdition: Honestly, I haven’t really dealt with this question yet. Of course, Savathun could use her knowledge of necromancy, learned from Nokris in the Season of Arrival, to resurrect Sagira. There are also interesting statements about Sagira in the Destiny 1 Grimoire cards. For example, Lysander, the leader of a former faction that was banned from the Tower (the Concord), said that Osiris was resurrected by a faulty ghost. How this is interpreted now and whether it will play a role in conjunction with the current events remains to be seen.
Destiny 2 has told many great stories to this day:
I think you have also noticed Bungie’s big problem that entry for new players is not easy. Do you believe Destiny 2 players and fans, like you are one, can really fill the gap for Bungie in terms of the story? Or do you think Bungie needs to find a way to tell the story to new players from the beginning?
AndyEdition: With Beyond Light, the Cosmodrome, and the New Light quest, Bungie has managed to make the entry point for new players a bit easier. They must now also achieve this with the story; that little pop-up in the top right corner of the map is absolutely not enough to explain the story to new players. Bungie cannot rely on YouTubers like me, as not every new Guardian wants to catch up with the story through YouTube videos.
With this large universe they have created, it would be a wasted potential if they do not soon provide a rough summary of the previous events in the game. I would even celebrate if Bungie offered all campaigns as an extra download so that new players could experience the story themselves.
Here the question arises: Do you believe that players who start playing later have any chance of properly following the story? Do they even have to?
AndyEdition: Destiny has different types of players, and not everyone is interested in the stories in the game. You can also play the game without paying attention to the story. However, you miss a huge fascination of this franchise. I think Bungie has also realized this themselves by now, and that’s why they are now focusing heavily on the story and the individual characters.
We have already seen a major shift when we compare how the story was told at the release of Destiny 2 and how it is currently being done. However, as developers, one must not rest on one’s laurels and become complacent.
MeinMMO has also reported extensively on this topic:
Let’s move on to the currently most controversial character: Crow aka Uldren Sov. What is your opinion of him? Has he left his old character behind? Is he currently the only Guardian who still remembers all the details of his first mortal life?
AndyEdition: Crow has already experienced a lot in his short time as a Guardian. Just as he found his purpose as a servant of the Traveler, his past caught up with him, and he met Uldren Sov, his former self. Uldren’s devotion to Mara Sov never allowed him to reach his full potential, as he was only pursuing his sister’s goals.
He was only a puppet back then, and in my opinion, he still is today. He is most certainly a piece of Savathun’s grand plan, whether he wants to be or not. However, I believe that now that he knows the whole truth, he will find his own way sooner or later. That will be anything but easy for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he dies a hero’s death one day and becomes a proper legend in the Destiny universe.
Maybe not the only Guardian. As far as I know, Shin Malphur, a Hunter, also remembers his backstory. Shin is also currently the only Guardian who uses the ghost of another deceased Guardian. He was chosen by his ghost without ever having died.
“We have technically died in Season 9!”
Bungie teased and confirmed a death with “Spoiler Alert.” They just didn’t reveal who it would hit. Tell us, who do you think is most likely and why?
AndyEdition: Whew, answering such a question is not so easy. Even though I love talking about theories, one can quickly get bogged down and go down completely the wrong path. After we saw the trailers for “The Witch Queen”, the logical answer would be: Savathun, she dies and is resurrected as a light bearer.
But it is rarely that simple in the Destiny universe, as Savathun keeps Osiris hidden, and the 14th Saint would do anything for his beloved Osiris, leaving much room for speculation here.
If we recall the Season of Dawn in Season 9 and the Corridors of Time, at our grave and the speech of the 14th Saint, it would even be theoretically possible for us Guardians to die. Back then, the symbol/logo of the Witch Queen was already seen when entering the Corridors of Time. I don’t believe it, but Bungie is always full of surprises.
Thank you very much for this insightful interview and the effort you always put into your videos. I wish you continued success. We hope that the Destiny 2 community will continue to receive interesting perspectives on the story through you and your videos.
Here you can find AndyEdition: If you want to experience AndyEdition live, you can find his lore and story videos on YouTube. On his Twitter and Facebook channels, he posts updates about new videos and story theories.
Around Destiny 2, there are always discussions about everything outside of lore. For instance, the game has its own fashion magazine called “Threads of Light.” However, this might be in jeopardy, as too many Guardians are complaining:
