Fulfilling Bungie's Promise: Destiny 2's Latest Release After The Final Shape Exceeds Expectations!
Destiny 2's upcoming Echoes Episode in The Final Shape expansion shifts focus to the Vex, keeping players on the edge with thrilling gameplay and delivering on Bungie's recent promise
Highlights
In February, Destiny 2's Light and Darkness saga will reach its conclusion with The Final Shape expansion, bringing an end to a decade of captivating narratives and character progressions. The return of Cayde-6 foreshadows an extraordinary climax.
The upcoming episode-based model is expected to build upon the success of Season of the Witch. It aims to deliver more immersive and enduring narratives. The initial installment, Echoes, is anticipated to delve into the story of Osiris and the Vex, possibly reintroducing Venus as a location for exploration.
Bungie appears to have followed through on their commitment to bring the Vex back into the forefront following The Final Shape. The reintroduction of Venus invokes feelings of nostalgia and offers a deeper understanding of the Vex's origins, which may lead to the introduction of a formidable new foe.
The Light and Darkness saga in Destiny 2 will reach its conclusion with The Final Shape expansion in February of next year, marking the end of nearly a decade of interconnected stories and character progressions centered around the struggle for humanity and against The Witness. The grand finale is expected to be awe-inspiring in some way, and the return of Cayde-6 may serve as evidence of this, allowing players to experience the entire story while also honoring those who were lost along the journey. The Final Shape in Destiny 2 will not only conclude an era, but also usher in a new beginning, with the subsequent release immediately after fulfilling a promise made by Bungie in recent months.
In Destiny 2's Season of the Witch, Crota's End Raid was brought back and players were immersed in a thrilling Hive-themed experience, featuring narratives involving Eris Morn, Savathun, and Xivu Arath. This approach of delivering content in seasons has been highly successful and is likely to continue as the game transitions to a new episode-based model, with each release spanning four months instead of three. The first episode following The Final Shape expansion will be titled Echoes, and the accompanying image alone holds a wealth of details for fans to explore and dissect.
Destiny 2's Echoes Episode is Slated to Take the Vex Front and Center
Destiny 2's episodic model is set to bring significant changes to the series in terms of gameplay and scale. However, beyond these aspects, the storytelling will need to be more enduring and impactful. The first episode, Echoes, was unveiled during the recent Destiny 2 showcase in August, shedding light on The Final Shape and the future of the game. The image associated with Echoes presents a silhouette of what appears to be a Vex-clad human character, sparking questions while also providing some key insights.
Although initially resembling a full-fledged Vex entity, it becomes evident that the figure is, in fact, humanoid, potentially portraying Osiris. The Warlock has consistently displayed an intense fascination with the Vex, as showcased in the Curse of Osiris expansion during the early days of Destiny 2. This expansion revolved around Osiris's battle against the Radiolaria-infused enemies on Mercury. Given this history, having Osiris as the protagonist in the Echoes episode aligns coherently, especially considering his "echoes" - the Osiris clones introduced in Curse of Osiris.
More importantly, the image also reveals lush jungle leaves, suggesting that players may have the opportunity to explore Venus once again, particularly considering the presence of the Vault of Glass in Destiny 2. The Vex, who have a strong connection to Venus, were initially studied by Dr. Maya Sundaresh and her wife, Chioma Esi, as they delved into the simulated realities of this species. With the recent focus on Maya Sundaresh and Chioma Esi in Lightfall's lore releases, it is possible that Osiris will need to trace the virtual signature of Maya Sundaresh (MSund12) within the Vex network on Venus.
Regardless, the Vex appear to be the central focus of the Echoes episode, confirming Bungie's earlier promise that the Vex would receive more attention after The Final Shape. Reviving Venus from the first game would be a significant milestone for Destiny 2, generating nostalgia while also providing an opportunity to delve into the origins of the Vex and introduce a larger enemy for this faction - something more formidable than the giant-sized Minotaurs, Harpies, Hydras, or Wyverns.
Destiny 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
