Destiny 2 Unveils New Story Arc and Expansions Coming in 2025-2026

Bungie has announced a new chapter for Destiny 2 with the upcoming "Fate Saga," which begins this July.

With the decade-long Light and Dark Saga wrapping up in The Final Shape, the Fate Saga aims to redefine the Destiny 2 universe, potentially taking players beyond the solar system for the first time, as hinted by the mysterious signal leading to Kepler—a planetoid named after NASA’s exoplanet-hunting telescope.

New Release Schedule and Story

Destiny 2 is changing how it delivers content. Instead of one big yearly expansion, Bungie will now release two medium-sized paid expansions each year. According to Bungie's previous announcement, this new approach will allow them to "deliver story beats at a faster pace than before."

The first expansion, "The Edge of Fate," launches on July 15, 2025, and marks the beginning of the Year of Prophecy. This expansion introduces a new destination called Kepler, which sits at the edge of our solar system. Kepler is shrouded in dark matter and offers a unique experience focused on exploration and puzzle-solving.

"We took inspiration from experiences like Dreaming City, dungeons, Exotic missions, and Metroidvanias when creating The Edge of Fate," said Destiny 2 Narrative Director Alison Luhrs. The new location emphasizes "player-driven discovery and exploration utilizing brand new destination abilities."

New Gameplay Features

The Edge of Fate brings several exciting new features to the game:

• Matterspark ability: Allows Guardians to transform into a ball of energy, similar to Metroid's Morph Ball, to squeeze through tight spaces and attack enemies

• Other destination-specific abilities: Including the Void-focused Relocator Cannon for teleportation and Mattermorph which lets players manipulate their environment

• New raid: Details are still limited, but a new raid will be part of the expansion

• New enemies, weapons, and gear: Fresh challenges and rewards for players

Alongside the paid expansion, all players will receive a free "core game update" that includes:

• The Portal: A new activity selection screen for easier access to different game modes

• Armor 3.0: A rework of the armor system

• New tier system: For better gear progression

• Shooting range: Coming later, this permanent addition will let raid groups practice tactics against different enemies and bosses

• 50 New Modifiers: Players can customize their gameplay experience with 50 new modifiers, adjusting difficulty, adding boons, or introducing new challenges across activities like Solo Ops.

Star Wars Comes to Destiny

In a surprising announcement, Bungie revealed "Renegades," a Star Wars-themed expansion launching on December 2, 2025.

This unusual crossover will be "integral" to the Fate Saga story, merging "Destiny's distinctive storytelling and gameplay with themes and elements drawn from the iconic sci-fi franchise."

The Star Wars expansion will include a new dungeon, new characters, and "innovative activities and evolved mechanics designed to surprise and delight players," as described in Bungie's announcement post.

The Year of Prophecy Timeline

Bungie outlined their complete release schedule for the Year of Prophecy:

• July 15, 2025: The Edge of Fate expansion and Reclamation season

• September 9, 2025: Ash & Iron, a free major update with associated Rewards Pass. This update brings players back to the Plaguelands, featuring a new Reclaim activity, a new Exotic mission, and new gear.

• December 2, 2025: Renegades, the Star Wars-themed paid expansion

• March 3, 2026: Shadow & Order, the final free major update for the Year of Prophecy

• Beyond the Year of Prophecy: The Fate Saga continues with Shattered Cycle in Summer 2026 and The Alchemist in Winter 2026.

Story Focus: The Nine

The new Fate Saga will explore one of Destiny's biggest mysteries: the Nine. These enigmatic celestial beings have existed for eons, and now players will finally learn more about them.

"Before the Traveler ever arrived in our solar system, there was already magic here," explained Destiny Assistant Game Director Robbie Stevens. "With the Fate Saga, we want to explore one of Destiny's biggest mysteries: the foundations of our universe."

Available Now: Rite of the Nine

To give players a taste of what's coming, Bungie has launched "Rite of the Nine" – a prologue event for The Edge of Fate.

This dungeon-themed event includes new difficulty modes for experienced players while also welcoming newcomers with an Explore mode for solo play. Players who complete the challenges can earn special Nine-themed Holofoil weapons.

The event features three iconic dungeons—Prophecy, Spire of the Watcher, and Ghosts of the Deep—with unique twists to familiar encounters and refreshed dungeon weapons sporting a striking Nine-inspired look.

Additional Updates and Events

Bungie also announced immediate and upcoming content to keep players engaged:

• Heavy Metal PvP Mode: This 3v3 PvP mode launches on May 9, 2025, featuring vehicular combat with Brigs and Tanks, available to all players.

• Solstice 2025: The annual Solstice event returns with ocean-themed Holofoil weapons, like the Yeartide Apex submachine gun. Bungie confirmed that all major events moving forward will feature Holofoil weapons, accessible to all players.

Both upcoming expansions – The Edge of Fate and Renegades – are now available for pre-order on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Various bundle options are available for players who want to purchase the entire Year of Prophecy content.