The Great Destiny 2 Purge: A Deep Dive into the Content Vault

The question isn’t so much what was cut from Destiny 2, but rather, where do we even begin? The truth is, a significant chunk of the game’s initial content, including entire campaigns, destinations, and activities, found its way into what Bungie calls the Destiny Content Vault (DCV). This wasn’t a simple removal; it was a strategic, albeit controversial, decision aimed at managing the game’s growing size and complexity. We are talking about the original base campaign (The Red War), the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions, much of Year Two’s Annual Pass content, and the Forsaken campaign. Numerous planets and locations were also taken offline. Let’s break it down further.

Destinations Lost to Time

Several planets and destinations were completely removed from the game. These aren’t just areas where a few activities were disabled, but entire explorable zones that vanished from the Director. The most prominent examples include:

• Mars: The home of Warmind, featuring the icy polar region and the Clovis Bray facilities.
• Mercury: The setting for Curse of Osiris, with its Infinite Forest and sleek Vex architecture.
• Titan: One of Saturn’s moons, presenting a unique, oceanic environment with Hive infestations.
• Io: A Jupiter moon that was once the Traveler’s last stand, with diverse terrain and Asher Mir’s research facility.
• The Tangled Shore: This location and its campaign was removed with the release of the Witch Queen Expansion.

The removal of these destinations meant the loss of associated strikes, adventures, patrol zones, and the unique feel each planet offered.

Campaigns and Expansions That Vanished

Perhaps the most impactful removals were the campaigns and expansions. These weren’t simply side quests; they were the core narrative experiences that defined early Destiny 2. The major losses include:

• The Red War: The original campaign that launched with Destiny 2, which saw the Cabal Legion strip Guardians of their light and take over The Tower. It was replaced by the New Light introductory quest, and the original story vanished.
• Curse of Osiris: An expansion focused on the legendary Warlock, Osiris, and a Vex threat on Mercury. Its story missions, strikes, and the Infinite Forest activity were all vaulted.
• Warmind: This expansion centered on Rasputin, the Warmind AI, and an ancient Hive threat on Mars. The campaign, Escalation Protocol activity, and associated strikes and quests were removed.
• Forsaken: This expansion campaign which featured the death of Cayde-6 and the pursuit of the Scorn Barons and the Awoken Prince.

These campaign removals significantly impacted the narrative flow of the game and created gaps in the player experience.

Activities and Content Swept Away

Beyond the campaigns and destinations, countless smaller activities, quests, and items were also removed. These include:

• Strikes: Several strikes tied to the vaulted destinations and campaigns were removed from the strike playlist.
• Adventures: The short side missions on each planet were also vaulted.
• Raids: The Leviathan raid and its raid lairs were removed from the game.
• Year Two Annual Pass Content: While Gambit Prime remained, other aspects of the Annual Pass, particularly related to forges, were altered or removed.
• Seasonal Content: Each year the seasonal activities and quests are removed with the next expansion release.

These removals, while individually less impactful than the larger content vaults, collectively contributed to a significant change in the game’s overall content offering.

Why Was Content Vaulted?

The primary reason cited for the Destiny Content Vault was the game’s growing size and complexity. As Destiny 2 expanded with each new release, the codebase became increasingly difficult to manage, hindering the development of new content. Bungie stated that by removing older, less-played content, they could streamline the game’s development pipeline and ensure better performance. Another claimed reason was that free-to-play players had access to too much content to play through. It’s worth noting that this rationale was met with considerable criticism from the player base, who felt that they were losing access to content they had paid for. Thankfully, Bungie has stated it will not remove expansions in the future.

The Legacy of the Vault

The Destiny Content Vault remains a controversial topic within the Destiny 2 community. While it did address the game’s technical challenges, it also resulted in the loss of beloved content and created a fragmented narrative experience.

While Bungie has pledged to no longer vault expansions, seasonal content will still be removed each year with the next expansion release. The DCV serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges of managing live-service games and the complex balance between technical constraints and player expectations. It’s an interesting example of game management, which is a topic explored by the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Destiny 2: Content Vault FAQs

1. What exactly is the Destiny Content Vault?

The Destiny Content Vault (DCV) is Bungie’s system for archiving older content from Destiny 2 to reduce the game’s size and complexity. This includes destinations, campaigns, activities, and quests that are no longer actively used.

2. Why did Bungie create the Destiny Content Vault?

Bungie created the DCV to address technical issues related to the game’s growing size and complexity. Removing older content allowed them to streamline the development pipeline, improve performance, and focus on creating new content more efficiently.

3. What was the first content to be removed from Destiny 2?

The first major removal of content occurred with the launch of the Beyond Light expansion. This included the Red War campaign, the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions, and the destinations Mars, Mercury, Titan, and Io.

4. Did players get refunds for content that was vaulted?

No, players did not receive refunds for vaulted content. Bungie’s justification was that players had already experienced the content for a period of time, and the vaulting was necessary for the overall health of the game. This decision was a major point of contention with the player base.

5. Will vaulted content ever return to Destiny 2?

Some vaulted content has returned or been re-introduced in a different form. The Vault of Glass raid, for example, was brought back with updated mechanics. However, there are no guarantees that specific content will return, and Bungie has been selective about what they choose to reintroduce.

6. Is all seasonal content going to be vaulted?

Yes, the seasonal content will be vaulted at the end of its year and with the release of the next yearly expansion.

7. What happens to quests and items related to vaulted content?

Quests and items tied to vaulted content are typically removed from the game. Players will no longer be able to acquire these items or complete those quests. In some cases, equivalent replacements might be introduced.

8. Does the Destiny Content Vault affect story progression?

The removal of campaigns and story missions can create gaps in the overall narrative experience. New players may find it difficult to understand the context of current events without having played the original campaigns.

9. How does the Destiny Content Vault impact free-to-play players?

The DCV significantly impacts free-to-play players, as much of the content they initially had access to was removed. This can limit their options and potentially make it harder to engage with the game’s core activities.

10. Are any expansions safe from being vaulted in the future?

Bungie has stated that they will not remove expansions going forward.

11. Will any removed destinations return?

Some locations and activities could return, but the plan is not to reintroduce vaulted content.

12. Is Destiny 3 still in the plans?

Bungie has stated that Destiny 3 is not currently in their plans, as they intend to continue expanding and evolving Destiny 2.

13. What are the advantages of not vaulting content?

The advantages of not vaulting content include a more complete and cohesive narrative experience, more diverse gameplay options, and a better sense of value for players who have invested in the game.

14. What’s the future of content sunsetting in Destiny 2?

Bungie has confirmed that they will no longer sunset expansion content in Destiny 2. This means that expansions like Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and The Witch Queen will remain accessible.

15. Where can I learn more about game design and management decisions like the Destiny Content Vault?

Organizations like the Games Learning Society offer valuable insights into the complexities of game development and management. Check out their website at GamesLearningSociety.org to explore research, resources, and discussions related to game design, learning, and the broader impact of games.