In aDeveloper Livestream on Twitch, Bungie spoke about whatDestiny 2players could expect for content moving intoFrontiers, comparing each of the two yearly expansions to the size of theRise of Ironexpansion for the originalDestiny.The studio also offered a glimpse at what new content could look like, showing some concept art and commenting on gameplay structure.
TheDestiny 2community has found itself in a bit of a predicament since Bungie announced its plans for the future. On the one hand, some rejoiced at the news that the game was continuing not only to receive regular expansions but two expansions a year. On the other hand,others worriedthat Bungie noted that these expansions would be smaller in size and scale than what players had grown used to. Bungie seemingly took theEpisode Revenantlivestream as an opportunity to assure fans about the future ofDestiny 2, spending a good chunk of the stream talking aboutFrontiers.
During the stream,Destiny 2‘s Assistant Game Director, Robbie Stevens, outlined how future expansions forDestiny 2, starting withCodename: Frontiers, will shift in scale and structure. Instead of a single enormous expansion every 18 months or so, the new approach aims to bring two relatively large expansions annually. Each is noted to have a scope similar toRise of Ironfrom the originalDestiny.
“Expansions are changing going forward withCodename: Frontiers,” Stevens explained. “Our philosophy behind this is moving from one really big, all-consuming tentpole moment that takes all the oxygen in the room, to two big tentpole moments happening in each year.”
Bungie’s plan introduces more frequent content and more replayable and unique experiences. “Each expansion is going to have its own unique version of a campaign and post-game experience that you can dive really deep into beyond the initial playthrough,” Stevens elaborated, comparing it to beloved areas like The Dreaming City orThe Final Shape’snew locale, ThePale Heart. “Making our expansions unique and deeply replayable is a big goal for us, in large part to support all the new gear and the new tiering of gear that we’re putting into the game.”
One of the standout features of this new approach is the non-linear design being touted for upcoming campaigns, particularly withApollo.Stevens described it as being something of a “Metroidvania-inspired” destination, implying that areas or zones might have layers that aren’t immediately accessible.
“You’re going to journey to a Metroidvania-inspired destination. That’s our guiding light for how we’re creating this new location,” Stevens shared. “So, this new destination is going to feature a non-linear campaign that puts you in the driver’s seat of exploring its world and its story.”
Bungie claims it’s not taking its foot off the narrative gas
Bungie also took some time to address some of the community worries that the story would no longer be a centric part of theDestinyexperience. In short, the studio maintains that narrative is still a cornerstone of what givesDestinyits identity and that it won’t be going away. Narrative Director Alison Lührs spoke on the topic.
Responding to whetherDestiny 2‘s new content structure would allow the same quality of storytelling as it had in the past, Lührs said, “That would be news to me if [the narrative] suddenly vanished.” Lührs continued, “Story isDestiny. What makesDestiny Destinyis the beating heart of story at its core. That’s not going anywhere.”
Elaborating a bit, Lührs explained that the new structure allows the narrative inDestinyto go places where it wasn’t able to before. Aside from being able to play with delivery and new themes, Lührs notes that the two yearly expansions will allow the game to feel more alive, giving the changes to the universe and its lore a more rapid delivery.
The Narrative Director also noted thatFrontiersallows some of the previous pain points withinDestiny 2to fall away. The current narrative dance players often do, where a week’s worth of quests amounts to talking to a few NPCs in different locales, will be a thing of the past.
“Yeah, [that Quest structure] drives us bonkers too,” Lührs said. “We believe that everything should be questioned, right? Like, we should be questioning that structure; we should be reinvestigating it. Starting withRevenantand especially when we get toApollo, we’re going to be deliberately shaking it up. By the time we get toApollo, that loop, that pattern, is more or less gone.”
While it was a bit unexpected for Bungie to go all in on addressing feedback and talking aboutFrontiers, the stream certainly proved insightful. It’s clear that Bungie is working to do what it can to reestablish player faith. As Lührs said, “The feedback is loud and clear,” so let’s hope Bungie will continue taking it to heart.
