Is Bungie Still Sunsetting Content in Destiny 2? The Definitive Answer

Yes and no. Let’s cut right to the chase. While Bungie has stated they are no longer sunsetting entire expansion content, the practice of removing seasonal content is still very much alive and kicking in Destiny 2. In essence, major expansions like Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and Lightfall are here to stay, but the seasonal activities and storylines that bridge the gaps between them are cycled out annually when a new expansion drops. This distinction is crucial for understanding Bungie’s current content strategy. They’ve listened to player feedback about the loss of significant story content, but they still need to manage the game’s size and complexity.

Understanding Destiny 2’s Content Vault and Sunsetting

The initial decision to implement sunsetting, formalized as the Destiny Content Vault (DCV), was announced in 2020 and implemented alongside the Beyond Light expansion. The primary reasons given were:

• Reducing Game Size: Destiny 2 had ballooned to over 165 GB, making it difficult to download and store for many players.
• Technical Constraints: The game’s engine was struggling to handle the growing complexity of accumulated content, leading to performance issues and development bottlenecks.
• Focusing Development Resources: Sunsetting allowed Bungie to concentrate their development efforts on creating new, high-quality content rather than maintaining older, less-played activities.

This meant that not only story campaigns disappeared, but entire locations, and the activities players could pursue on them. Content like the Red War campaign, and destinations like Mars, Io, Titan, and Mercury were removed and placed in the DCV. This decision was met with mixed reactions. While some understood the necessity for the game’s health, others lamented the loss of content they had paid for. The concept of sunsetting weapons and armor (making older gear obsolete) further fueled the controversy.

The Pivot: No More Expansion Sunsetting

In response to consistent feedback and perhaps recognizing the narrative disconnect it created, Bungie announced a shift in strategy. With the launch of the Lightfall expansion, they committed to no longer sunsetting expansion content. This was a major relief for many players, ensuring that core story arcs and associated destinations would remain playable indefinitely. Bungie wants this story, since they first communed with the Darkness on the Moon, to be fully playable start to finish.

However, the caveat remains: seasonal content is still subject to removal. This means that activities, quests, and storylines introduced within the seasonal model (e.g., Season of the Risen, Season of the Haunted, Season of Plunder, and Season of the Seraph from the Witch Queen year) are typically vaulted when the next major expansion arrives. Destinations associated solely with seasonal content, like the Derelict Leviathan, may also be removed.

Why Seasonal Content Still Gets Vaulted

The reasons for continuing to vault seasonal content are similar to the original justification for the DCV:

• Game Size Management: Even without vaulting expansions, Destiny 2 remains a substantial game. Removing seasonal content helps prevent the game from becoming unmanageably large.
• Maintaining Freshness: Regularly cycling out seasonal content allows Bungie to introduce new experiences and mechanics, keeping the game feeling fresh and engaging.
• Resource Allocation: By focusing development on new seasonal and expansion content, Bungie can deliver higher-quality experiences rather than spreading resources thin across a vast library of activities.

The Future of Destiny 2

Destiny 2 isn’t ending. Bungie confirmed this several times over the past year as well during the Destiny 2 showcase on August 23, 2023. While The Final Shape marks the culmination of the Light and Darkness Saga, the game will continue to evolve and expand with new storylines and challenges. Bungie has already hinted at future content that will explore new factions and threats, ensuring that Destiny 2 remains a vibrant and evolving universe for years to come.

Moreover, the recent partnership between Bungie and the Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, highlights the potential for innovative approaches to game design and community engagement within the Destiny 2 universe. This collaboration could lead to new ways for players to learn and connect through the game, further enriching the Destiny 2 experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Destiny 2 Sunsetting

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the current state of content sunsetting in Destiny 2:

1. Will Beyond Light be removed from Destiny 2? No, Beyond Light will not be removed. Bungie has stated that expansion content will no longer be vaulted.

2. What content is leaving Destiny 2? Generally, seasonal activities, quests, and storylines are removed when a new expansion launches. Anything tied specifically to a seasonal release.

3. Is Destiny 2 getting rid of sunsetting completely? No, only expansion content is safe from sunsetting. Seasonal content is still being vaulted each year.

4. Why did Destiny 2 remove content in the first place? Initially, content was removed to reduce game size, address technical limitations, and focus development resources.

5. Will old expansions ever come back to Destiny 2? There has been no indication old expansions like The Red War will come back.

6. Is Bungie done vaulting content for good? Bungie is done vaulting expansion content but will continue to vault seasonal content.

7. What happens to weapons and armor from vaulted content? Gear from vaulted expansion content remains usable (unless it was sunset prior to the change, and now has a power limit), but new copies are not obtainable. Gear from vaulted seasonal content cannot be obtained anymore once it is removed from the game.

8. If I bought an expansion that was vaulted, did I lose my money? This is a complex issue. Many players felt this way, which is why Bungie changed the policy. When content was vaulted, Bungie often offered compensation, such as access to other content or in-game items. The value proposition is now that anything you buy in the future, will stay in the game, aside from seasonal content.

9. What free-to-play content is available in Destiny 2? Free-to-play activities include the “New Light” questline, Vanguard Strikes, Crucible, Gambit, some seasonal events, the Prophecy Dungeon, and the Vault of Glass and King’s Fall raids.

10. How big is Destiny 2 currently? The size of Destiny 2 varies depending on the platform and installed content. Expect it to be substantial, but smaller than it was before the initial DCV implementation.

11. Are there plans for a Destiny 3? As of now, Bungie has not announced plans for Destiny 3 and is focused on expanding and supporting Destiny 2.

12. What will happen to Destiny after The Final Shape? Destiny 2 will continue to be supported with new storylines and content, exploring new factions and threats beyond the Light and Darkness Saga.

13. Is Destiny 2 worth playing in 2024? Yes! Destiny 2 is worth playing in 2024. The MMO Shooter has a large online player base with hundreds of thousands.

14. Will Cayde-6 be returning? Cayde-6 is returning with his original voice actor for The Final Shape, Firefly/The Rookie’s Nathan Fillion.

15. Can Bungie restore a deleted character? Bungie does not provide services for restoring deleted characters or recovering dismantled items. It’s crucial to be careful when deleting characters or items.