Destiny 2 is known for its recurring settings from slimy Hive monuments to the steel machinery of the Cabal. The Witch Queen, on the other hand, mixed a lot of familiar elements with new features, creating the mysterious Throne World of Savathûn. We asked Bungie what inspired them for this world.
MeinMMO asked Bungie: We from MeinMMO were invited by Bungie to talk with the developer about Witch Queen. Since especially the new setting has captivated many new but also old Guardians, we wanted to know what inspired Bungie to remodel familiar scenes of environments.
To this end, we spoke directly with the Bungie developers:
- Blake Battle, the Project Lead
- Adam Grantham, the Narrative Director
- Guillaume Colomb, the Senior Narrative Lead
The Contrast between Darkness and Light
Blake Battle, the Project Lead of Destiny 2, answered the question that the world of Savathûn is a wonderland of mysteries and lies. Blake emphasizes that the Throne World is a reflection of Savathûn herself. This contrast of darkness and light is something the developers wanted to capture.
From a design perspective, Savathûn’s Throne World is very complex and also unsettling. You can see the influence of the Hive, but there’s also so much light, which shines in pure splendor. It was intentional that this contrast creates such a controversial effect, appearing alien and perhaps even difficult to understand.
Additionally, Adam Grantham comments and expresses the following regarding the question:
We were really inspired by Savathûn and her transformation. We wanted to create a place that truly reflects that. […] The Throne World manifests the past that Savathûn has tried to bury while she embraces her new version (reborn through the Light).
Furthermore, Guillaume Colomb mentioned that the architecture, as well as the gardens of the Throne World, are inspired by the French palace of Versailles from the High and Late Baroque. This is where the developers drew their inspiration.
When comparing the neatly trimmed gardens of Savathûn with those of the famous castle from France, similarities can be noted. It’s interesting to see that Bungie also incorporates elements from history and reinvents them in their game.
On Jupiter’s moon Europa, which came into play with the Beyond Light expansion, parallels between reality and the implementation in the game could already be recognized. The red veins, which you see in images from NASA, indicate the presence of heavy minerals in the ice. Bungie likely incorporated these details into the design of Europa in Destiny 2 to make the impression of the Jupiter moon as realistic as possible.
Bungie also had to make a decision. Either the Throne World would have become another Hive location, or they would take a completely different path with the setting to create a highly contrasting backdrop.
When looking from a distance at the beautiful towers, windows, and buildings, it looks stunning. But as soon as the Guardians gain a glimpse behind the facade, Bungie wanted you to notice: Not everything is as it seems here. The facade crumbles and only conceals the true nature.
The more you explore, the more threatening the new location becomes. It indeed seems that the world created by Savathûn hides a dark truth behind the Light. What that truth is, the Guardians must discover for themselves with their Deep Sight ability.
Witch Queen hasn’t been out for long, but the interesting design of Savathûn’s Throne World makes us hope for cooler environments, which may be implemented with the new DLC “Lightfall” in Destiny 2.
What do you think of Bungie’s mix composition of Hive locations and the French castle? Do you like the Throne World? And do you find such background information cool or are you not interested in closer insights into game development? Let us know!
