With the DLC “Rise of Iron,” Bungie has created a new and abstract threat. SIVA, the replicating nanotechnology from BrayTech, has caused a lot of havoc in Destiny 1, and players have been hoping for a return in Destiny 2 for years. Bungie answered questions in a new Q&A, one of which revolved around this old enemy.
Q&A with Bungie – Who was present? Bungie held a Q&A with selected media, with Nikko Stevens, the Senior Narrative Designer, and Liz Baker, the Narrative Designer for expansions, present. Questions were asked about the story development from Witch Queen to Lightfall, as well as specific content in the Season.
One interesting question that should particularly interest veterans from Destiny 1 is why SIVA, a self-replicating nanotechnology, did not make it into Season 19. Many enemy races also made their comeback in Destiny 2. From the Hive to the Taken, everything was represented, yet SIVA with the devilish Splicers was skillfully neglected. Bungie now explains why a comeback is unlikely.
SIVA is a story that is simply checked off
What do the developers say about a return? In response to this question, Nikko Stevens stated that SIVA was often a topic when it came to a Rasputin Season. He said:
We always talk about every related story thread when we start something new. So whenever the Warmind comes up, whether back then in the season of the Worthy or now, SIVA has been narratively part of the conversation. We talk about it; we kick it around. But ultimately, I think SIVA is a story that was told in Rise of Iron and concluded in Rise of Iron.
Many Guardians have been hoping since the release of Destiny 2 that SIVA might make another appearance in the loot shooter. The weapons and their design, as well as the mechanics behind the nanotechnology, have always been eye-catching, but in Destiny 2 only the Exo weapon “Perfected Outbreak” and some Exo ornaments have made it into the game.
Nikko Stevens also addresses a problem that stands in the way of a SIVA release, which is the story of Destiny 2 itself:
While it is narratively possible to turn these stories upside down and bring them back, I think we need to do one thing seasonally to ensure that we focus on the story that the season tells – and that we do not indulge in pieces that do not necessarily advance the story. I think SIVA is cool, but it would be a step backward. We have tried to build on Neomuna and Lightfall and ensure that this story has room to breathe – room to blossom – before players enter this new destination.
While Nikko himself does not deny a comeback, the Senior Narrative Designer makes it clear that the main story around the Light and Darkness saga is the top priority. Everything that does not fit the story will also not be added. This includes SIVA.
When did SIVA make its first appearance? SIVA made its first appearance in September 2016 with the DLC “The Rise of Iron Lords” in Destiny 1. In this expansion, Guardians could travel back to Old Russia to contain a sealed threat.
This threat was a self-replicating nanotechnology called SIVA. The Iron Lords wanted to use this technology for good, as SIVA could break down all matter into its components and reassemble it. While the Iron Lords attempted to recover this technology, they fell into an ambush by an artificial intelligence and were then eliminated by SIVA itself, leaving only a few survivors.
For this reason, SIVA is classified as highly dangerous and is guarded by Lord Saladin himself, so that no one gets the idea of causing another SIVA crisis.
What do you think about Bungie’s focus on more current topics like the upcoming DLC “Lightfall”? Do you think it’s good or unfortunate that SIVA might never make a comeback? Let us know in the comments!
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