Forsaken: A Ghost of Destiny’s Past – Can You Still Play It in 2023?
The short answer is a resounding no. The Forsaken DLC for Destiny 2 is no longer playable in its original form. The campaign, along with its primary destination, the Tangled Shore, was removed from the game in February 2022 as part of Bungie’s Destiny Content Vault (DCV) initiative. This initiative aims to manage game size and performance by cycling out older content. While the full experience is gone, elements of Forsaken persist, which we will explore.
What Happened to Forsaken? Understanding the Destiny Content Vault
The Destiny Content Vault (DCV) is a contentious topic among Destiny 2 players. Its purpose is to reduce the overall file size of the game and improve performance by removing older content. Bungie argued that maintaining all past expansions and seasonal content was becoming increasingly difficult from a technical standpoint. This led to the sunsetting of entire campaigns, destinations, and even weapons and armor.
Forsaken was a prime candidate for the DCV. While critically acclaimed and considered a turning point for Destiny 2, it occupied a significant amount of storage space. Ultimately, the decision was made to vault the campaign and Tangled Shore alongside the release of The Witch Queen expansion. Before this happened, Bungie did make the Forsaken campaign available for free for a limited time, allowing players a final chance to experience it.
The Legacy of Forsaken and What Remains
Although the main campaign and the Tangled Shore are gone, the spirit of Forsaken lives on in several ways. The most significant is through the Forsaken Pack, which remains available for purchase.
This pack grants access to:
- The Last Wish raid, a challenging and rewarding endgame activity set in the Dreaming City.
- The Shattered Throne dungeon, another endgame activity that offers unique loot and story elements.
- Access to the three Forsaken Ciphers, which can be redeemed at the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower.
The Forsaken Ciphers are particularly important. They allow players to acquire Exotic weapons that were originally introduced in the Forsaken expansion. These weapons are powerful and highly sought after, offering a taste of the Forsaken era even without the campaign itself. These exotic weapons and armor provide a unique gameplay experience that can improve your overall performance in Destiny 2.
You can spend the ciphers to purchase any Forsaken Exotic weapon in the Archive. If all Exotic weapons have been purchased, the Ciphers can be turned in for an Ascendant Shard.
What About the Dreaming City?
Thankfully, the beautiful and mysterious Dreaming City was spared from the DCV. This location, intrinsically tied to the Forsaken storyline, remains accessible and offers a wealth of content, including:
- Patrols and Public Events: Standard open-world activities.
- Ascendant Challenges: Weekly challenges that require specific strategies and offer unique rewards.
- The Blind Well: A horde mode activity for cooperative play.
- The Last Wish raid: As mentioned before, a challenging raid with excellent rewards.
- Shattered Throne Dungeon: A challenging dungeon that offers unique loot and story elements.
Visiting the Dreaming City allows players to experience a tangible connection to the Forsaken storyline, even if they can no longer play the campaign. It is crucial that you have a stable internet connection to log in and play.
The Dreaming City is a crucial piece of content that is still available to Destiny 2 players.
FAQs: Diving Deeper into the Forsaken Legacy
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Forsaken DLC and its current status in Destiny 2:
1. Why was the Forsaken campaign removed?
The campaign was removed as part of the Destiny Content Vault (DCV) to reduce game size and improve performance. Bungie cited technical limitations as the primary reason for sunsetting older content.
2. Can I still get the Forsaken Exotic weapons?
Yes! The Forsaken Pack grants access to Forsaken Ciphers, which can be redeemed at the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower for Forsaken-era Exotic weapons. Over 20 Exotic weapons and over 15 Exotic armors are available with the Forsaken Pack.
3. Is the Tangled Shore still in the game?
No, the Tangled Shore destination was also removed from the game as part of the DCV alongside the Forsaken campaign.
4. What is the Forsaken Pack?
The Forsaken Pack is a DLC that grants access to the Last Wish raid, the Shattered Throne dungeon, and three Forsaken Ciphers for acquiring Exotic weapons.
5. Is Shadowkeep also vaulted?
No, the Shadowkeep campaign is still playable in Destiny 2. Bungie has stated they will no longer sunset entire expansions.
6. What other content has been vaulted from Destiny 2?
Other vaulted content includes the original Red War campaign, the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions, and various seasonal activities.
7. Will the Forsaken campaign ever return?
While anything is possible, it’s unlikely that the Forsaken campaign will return in its original form. Bungie has focused on creating new content rather than restoring vaulted content.
8. What expansions are still available in Destiny 2?
The currently available expansions are Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen, and Lightfall.
9. Do I need to buy the Forsaken Pack to play the Last Wish raid or Shattered Throne dungeon?
Yes, access to these activities is granted through the Forsaken Pack.
10. What is the Monument to Lost Lights?
The Monument to Lost Lights is an Exotic Archive in the Tower where players can purchase Exotic weapons and armor from previous expansions, including those from Forsaken.
11. Is Destiny 2 an offline game?
No, Destiny 2 requires a constant internet connection and does not have an offline mode.
12. Why did Bungie remove content from Destiny 2?
Bungie removed content to manage the game’s size, improve performance, and focus on developing new content.
13. Can I still experience the Forsaken story in any way?
While you can’t play the campaign, you can experience elements of the story through the Dreaming City, lore entries, and online resources.
14. How many hours long was the Forsaken campaign?
The main story of the Forsaken campaign was around 7-8 hours long. Completing all aspects of the expansion could take hundreds of hours.
15. What is error code Bee in Destiny 2?
Error code Bee is a network-related error, often caused by issues with your internet connection, Wi-Fi setup, or ISP.
The Future of Destiny 2 and Preservation
The controversy surrounding the DCV highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining a live-service game. While Bungie has stated that they will no longer vault entire expansions, the fate of seasonal content and other activities remains uncertain. The lessons learned from the sunsetting of Forsaken can inform future decisions about content management and preservation in Destiny 2 and other live-service games.
Understanding how games like Destiny 2 affect learning and engagement is a growing area of study. Organizations like the Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, explore the intersection of gaming, learning, and technology. Their research provides valuable insights into how games can be used for educational purposes and how game design can impact player behavior.
In conclusion, while the Forsaken campaign is no longer playable, its legacy lives on through the Forsaken Pack, the Dreaming City, and the memories of players who experienced its compelling story and characters. It serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of live-service games and the importance of preserving gaming history.