Bungie has announced radical changes to the way Destiny 2 expansions and updates will be released, and the studio is moving away from its yearly release model going forward.
In an article titled "New Frontiers", Bungie marks the tenth anniversary of the Destiny franchise by discussing what's next for Destiny 2. The studio said that it "closed a door" with recent expansion The Final Shape, and that it's now looking to open "a new one, a weird one, an exciting one".
In short, Destiny 2 will now get two "medium"-sized expansions per year, as well as four major free updates. The expansions will be paid, but the updates will be available for all players at no cost.
Destiny 2's new expansions will "depart from the one-shot campaign structure" for which the game's expansions have become known, and will instead experiment with uncharted territory for Destiny 2. This could include "exploration experiences", Metroidvania structures, or even "roguelikes or survival shooters".
Additionally, rather than Episodes, Destiny 2 will now get four updates per year. Expansions will launch alongside major updates at the start of Seasons, and a second update will follow three months after that, adding content like Strikes, new modes, and new gear.
This new modernization process begins with the expansion currently titled Codename: Apollo, which is set to launch next summer. Bungie describes this expansion as a "nonlinear character-driven adventure".
In essence, whereas the story in previous expansions was an "A to B to C to D" affair, this one will offer more choice, allowing you to explore locations and narrative elements at your own discretion (although the ones you don't pick will still be available later).
These changes come after sweeping layoffs at Bungie, which CEO Pete Parsons called part of a "new path" for the studio. It's also worth noting that the game's most recent major expansion, The Final Shape, was delayed by several months, which may be relevant in Bungie's decision to shift to smaller expansions.
We'll likely get to find out more about Bungie's plans for Codename: Apollo and Destiny 2 in the coming months. Stay tuned for more on this as and when we get it.
