Destiny 2: A Thrilling Story That Might Fade Away Too Soon
Destiny 2 has recently wrapped up a monumental chapter in its Light and Darkness Saga with the expansion called The Final Shape. It seemed like a perfect time to conclude the story, but the creative minds at Bungie were just getting started with some exciting new narratives. Following this climactic release, the new expansions, The Edge of Fate and Renegades, aimed to kick off a second Fate Saga. Unfortunately, their focus on making the game more accessible for newcomers and returning players didn’t resonate well with existing fans, leading many loyal Guardians to feel disappointed.
Despite these setbacks, the storytelling in Destiny 2 has never been more captivating. It’s a real bummer that if this truly marks the end of the franchise, we might miss out on some of the best tales they’ve crafted.
For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Destiny’s narrative experienced a dramatic shift just before the release of the original game. Joseph Staten, a pivotal writer known for his work on the Halo series, was initially the lead writer for the first Destiny. However, just months before launch, much of his intricate narrative was discarded for being too complex and linear. Staten eventually moved on to Xbox, leaving behind a game that many criticized for its lackluster story. One Bungie developer even remarked that Destiny felt like “a game written without writers.” The foundational ideas of Light and Darkness were there, but the storytelling was quite loose.
As the game evolved, Bungie made strides in fleshing out its universe by developing memorable characters like Oryx, The Taken King, and Uldren Sov, the Awoken prince who would later return as the Guardian Crow. This character-centric approach gradually enriched the lore, paving the way for future narratives.
However, the inconsistency in storytelling continued as players approached The Final Shape. Expansions like Beyond Light and Lightfall faced criticism for their narratives, while The Witch Queen was praised for its focus on Savathûn, a character beloved by fans, and for enhancing the understanding of Destiny’s Light and Darkness.
In these expansions, the ominous character known as the Witness was introduced, evolving into the main antagonist of the Light and Darkness Saga. Initially, the downfall of humanity was attributed to an ill-defined force called “the Darkness,” with our salvation hinging on another vague power referred to as “the Light,” which was embodied by the Traveler—a giant alien entity that had come to Earth ages ago.
As the layers were peeled back, it was revealed that the Witness belonged to a race of ancient beings known as the Precursors. Long ago, they unearthed the Traveler on their home planet. This magnificent entity uplifted them, but they also recognized that its power could lead to chaos if mismanaged. Thus, they sought a way to control this power to avoid disaster.
The Precursors’ quest led them to the Veil, an entity of Darkness. This aspect of the narrative was not fully clarified until the later expansions, revealing the distinction between the manipulation of the physical world by the Light and the metaphysical influence of the Darkness on thoughts and emotions. The Precursors believed that by harnessing the Darkness, they could wield the Traveler’s Light and create the Final Shape—a perfect universe preserved in time.
However, differing opinions among the Precursors about what the Final Shape entailed caused internal strife. The most fervent members unified into a single entity: the Witness, effectively silencing any dissenting voices.
This revelation added a rich layer of context to Destiny’s lore. The Traveler’s journey was no longer seen as aimless; it was fleeing from the Witness, which sought to exploit its power. The Traveler’s decision to stay on Earth indicated its faith in humanity’s potential to confront the darkness.
In The Final Shape, players—acting as Guardians—used both Light and Darkness to weaken the Witness by targeting the conflicting voices within it, culminating in a spectacular conclusion reminiscent of the epic finale in Endgame.
While many players and even Bungie’s own team felt that Destiny 2 had reached a natural conclusion, it’s crucial to note that the story’s quality continued to shine even after The Final Shape. Unlike many franchises that struggle post-climax, Destiny 2’s Fate Saga kicked off with a clear direction.
This new narrative arc introduced the Nine, mysterious fourth-dimensional beings that have influenced the Destiny universe since its inception. For the first time, these beings found themselves at odds. Five members wanted to guide humanity, while the other four desired to escape their cosmic confines and experience the universe directly.
In The Edge of Fate, the rogue faction within the Nine orchestrated the death of one of their own, III, who had strong ties to Earth and cared deeply for its inhabitants. This not only shifted the balance but also hinted at dire consequences for the solar system should they fail to “bind the Nine.”
Next came Renegades, the last expansion of Destiny 2, where players discovered that binding the Nine meant giving them physical forms. A new Envoy named Lodi was introduced, and he figured out that when a Nine member spoke through him, they couldn’t wield their fourth-dimensional powers. He proposed that if the Guardians could permanently bind each of the Nine to a physical body, their meddling would cease.
This plot point set the stage for an unforgettable journey, with players eager to explore the mythical Old Chicago, a location that had been teased since the original game but never realized. By the end of Renegades, players felt a thrill as the story was poised to delve into this long-awaited area.
Despite the excitement surrounding these upcoming tales, recent reports suggest that Destiny’s narrative might hit a brick wall. With Destiny 3 uncertain and significant layoffs looming at Bungie, the future of this compelling saga looks bleak. It’s a shame, as the storytelling in Destiny had never been better—until, perhaps, it was too late.