In Destiny 2 , the next major expansion is coming in October with Shadowkeep. What can fans expect? Our author Schuhmann says: Bungie is sending mixed signals. Sometimes it sounds like the revolution of Destiny, sometimes like recycling.
This makes it difficult to look forward to Destiny 2 Shadowkeep: Shadowkeep has a clear predecessor, namely “Destiny: Rise of Iron” from 2016:
- Both expansions were released when the big hype had already faded
- Bungie says Shadowkeep will be about the size of Rise of Iron, so smaller than Forsaken and The Taken King
- In both expansions, it seems like Bungie somehow needs to get through the year until the actual game comes (Destiny 2 or Destiny 3 in this current case)
However, to be fair, Bungie is currently still leaving the existence of Destiny 3 open – even though rumors are suggesting that Destiny 3 will be released with the PS5 in 2020.
How was Rise of Iron? Rise of Iron was received as “okay” in 2016 – it was clearly an expansion for fans who were longing for more content for their favorite game Destiny. It wasn’t a game to excite new players.
What does Shadowkeep offer? So far, it’s not really clear what exactly Shadowkeep will bring to Destiny 2 and whether it will be as spectacular as Forsaken. The “big new feature” is missing.
What has been presented so far are “the normal things”: New weapons, new zones, some improvements to gameplay systems.
The Moon and Eris Morn are coming back, everything sounds a bit like “Darkness lurks” and as if it has already been played.
Bungie’s actual focus has recently been on other things: The Free2Play transition, the partnership with Google Stadia, moving to Steam.
It is unclear whether really “something spectacularly new” is coming that offers players a different gameplay experience, or if Bungie is taking the “we’re playing it safe” approach.
Especially since they lost the support studios from Activision and now have so much other work awaiting them – Bungie has to build its own publishing paths.
These are the positive signals Bungie is sending: On the other hand, Bungie has also declared a revolution:
- They are now away from Activision and going their own way
- The base game will be Free2Play, they’re loosening restrictions everywhere regarding how players can purchase content
- Additionally, Bungie swears that they want to place a stronger focus on RPG elements to give people the game they want: They even call Destiny 2 an MMO
- Bungie already seemed more open and relaxed during the presentation compared to before. Speaking about many things they had previously remained silent about
If you believe Bungie, it is hard not to be curious about what they have been brewing in Seattle for quite some time.
Solid expansion that makes you want more – but not a milestone
Here’s how I see it: I unfortunately see Shadowkeep at the moment with more doubts than I would like. I believe that Destiny can have a good future and the change in the company’s mindset will bear fruit – but that Shadowkeep will be a big hit seems very unlikely to me.
Especially since important changes, such as those in PvP, are likely postponed to “later.” A new focus on things like the Trials would be so important for the game. Additionally, Destiny needs a content flow that consists of more than just new exotics.
Yes, the current Season 7 has breathed new life into Destiny 2, but I lack the belief that Bungie can deliver something big right now.
Shadowkeep will be important to see what we can expect from Bungie in the future and to recognize the direction in which the franchise is heading. Things like Armor 2.0 or the RPG focus sound good.
I think Shadowkeep will not disappoint fans but will give them what they expect: More content. However, it will more likely be a preview of later, bigger things than a big hit.
Shadowkeep will not trigger a new Destiny hype, as Forsaken or The Taken King did.
And whether Bungie really succeeds in dominating Google Stadia with Shadowkeep and exciting new players seems questionable to me at the moment.
