Destiny 2 is official. Revealed properly in an announcement trailer on 30 March, Bungie drew back the curtain on the fate of the Guardians, the Tower and the last bastion of mankind. Going by the trailer, Destiny 2 looks to continue the camaraderie aspect that made forming a strike team in Destiny so enjoyable. This time, however, the overall tone appears to be darker as humanity battles for survival on its home turf.
Despite the flashy new trailer that shows absolutely no gameplay, Bungie is hoping players will fall over one another to board the hype train and drop serious amounts of money on Destiny 2 pre-orders. The trouble is, Destiny 2 has a lot to answer for.
Destiny had a rocky start – excellent gunplay, but a terrible story and environments that became drab to play through over and over again. Its first two expansions were weak, too: Bungie knocked everything into shape with the release of The Taken King. The fear is that this could happen all over again with Destiny 2– something no fan wants to experience for a second time. There are also strong rumours that you won’t be able to carry over your Guardian from Destiny, going back on the ten-year-long-character promise Bungie made during Destiny’s development and early days of release.
If Bungie can address these key issues around Destiny 2, it will hopefully be a great addition to the franchise. For now, though, here’s everything we know about Destiny 2.
Destiny 2: Everything you need to know
Destiny 2 release date has been confirmed
Having initially leaked online thanks to an Italian retailer’s carelessness, Bungie and Destiny 2 publisher Activision confirmed that Destiny 2 will hit stores on Friday 8 September 2017. Destiny launched on 9 September 2014, meaning it will be almost exactly four years since Bungie first unveiled its magnum opus – fitting for a sequel where everything gets destroyed.
Destiny 2 is coming to PC
One of Destiny’s biggest foibles was its abandonment of the PC crowd. Destiny released on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, but a PC version never materialised and Bungie only offered up flimsy excuses. With Destiny 2, Bungie is rectifying the problem by bringing it to PC from day one – huzzah!
Destiny 2 will have a beta
For those concerned about how Bungie will ensure a smooth online experience on launch, Activision has announced that a Destiny 2 beta is on the way. There’s still no exact date for when a beta trial will open up to the public, but if you pre-order one of Destiny 2’s five versions, you’ll get access to it. The same Italian retailer that leaked the 8 September release date has the beta pegged for mid-summer. Destiny’s beta period ran from the 17 until 28 July, so expect something similar for Destiny 2.
Destiny 2 comes in five different versions
Because Activision is a ridiculous company that loves consumerism, there’s a dizzying array of different editions to pick up if you want to play Destiny 2. As stated earlier, every pre-order comes with access to Bungie’s Destiny 2 beta but – aside from the base game – each edition also contains extras for keen fans.
![Image of Destiny 2 - Season Pass [PS4 Download Code - UK Account]](http://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tDWuGD54L._SL160_.jpg "Image of Destiny 2 - Season Pass [PS4 Download Code - UK Account]")
The first two versions you can snap up are the standard game by itself or a deal where the expansion pass is also bundled in with Destiny 2 for a slightly reduced cost. We know that there are two planned expansions for Destiny 2, much like The Dark Below and House of Wolves. These will set you back £55 and £80 respectively on the PlayStation Store.
After those two rather straightforward editions, Bungie is offering up a “Digital Deluxe” edition that comes with the game, expansion pass and “premium digital content”. This takes the form of a “Legendary Sword”, “Legendary Player Emote” and a “Cabal Empire Themed Emblem”. This will set you back an eye-watering £90 on the PlayStation Store.
Next up is the coveted Limited Edition. Alongside the bonuses of the “Digital Deluxe” version, you’ll also get a snazzy steelbook case and a “Cabal-themed Collector’s box” with a booklet detailing “secrets into the Cabal Empire”, a “Cabal Schematic”, collectable postcards and “Cabal Military Pawns”. You can pre-order this on Amazon for a cool £90.
The daddy of all editions, however, is the Collector’s Edition. Without this you clearly can’t be a Destiny 2 fan. Exclusive to Game in the UK, the Destiny 2 Collector’s Edition comes with everything in the previous editions along with a customisable “frontier bag” that, while it looks hideous to me, contains a 15in laptop or tablet sleeve and is festooned with buckles and flaps. You’ll also get a “Frontier Kit” containing a solar panel USB charger with light, paracord and a solar blanket – presumably so you can stay warm and charged when camping out for other absurd collector’s editions in the future. You can pre-order the Destiny 2 Collector’s Edition from Game for a rather maddening £220 where you’ll also get an exclusive Cayde-6 figurine for your trouble.
Destiny 2’s story remains somewhat of a mystery
From the announcement trailer released on 30 March, it’s clear that Destiny 2’s plot revolves around the destruction of The Last City. The Traveller (the floating orb above The Last City) sits idly by as humanity is crushed under the boot of a mysterious new enemy known as the Red Legion – led by a shady character called Ghaul.
It’s all very dystopian sci-fi, and Bungie is framing the story as a tale of redemption and revenge. The Guardians from Destiny have been scattered and must regroup as the mantra of “claiming back our home” rings out across Bungie’s promotional blurb.
Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg revealed that Destiny 2’s story and setting should really appeal to fans of the previous title, saying toThe Daily Express: “If you’re one of the millions of players who’s really invested in Destiny and have put a lot of hours and passion into that game, you’re going to love this game, and there’s a lot more of what you love here.”
"The cornerstone of that is a great cinematic story that’s been a real focus with a great cast of memorable, relatable characters, coupled with some very nice ways to make the game more accessible to a casual player,” he continued. "Without losing anything that our core players love, we’ve made it more accessible to someone who just wants to have a great, more casual first-person action experience."