Highlights
In a notable departure from previous expansions, Bungie has made it clear that The Final Shape in Destiny 2's Lightfall era will not depend on its seasons to bring the story to a close, aiming to address concerns raised by the player community.
Cayde-6's return in The Final Shape has the potential to significantly impact the storyline, although it is possible that his presence will be confined to the newly introduced locations.
The seasons within The Final Shape will be separate from the main narrative, presenting self-contained stories that could hint at future expansions. However, this approach raises concerns about their overall significance within the series.
Destiny 2's Lightfall era generated immense anticipation as it was regarded as the most highly anticipated expansion and accompanying seasons in Bungie's looter-shooter history. The excitement was largely fueled by the remarkable success of the captivating storylines and gameplay experienced in The Witch Queen. However, there were doubts surrounding The Final Shape and its seasons, considering the lukewarm reception of Lightfall due to narrative issues that the seasonal loop for Season of Defiance failed to address. Consequently, the prevailing consensus was to cautiously maintain optimism for The Final Shape, although some unanswered queries remained.
The primary drawback of Lightfall was its fragmented storytelling approach spread out over the course of a year. Instead of providing immediate resolutions, Bungie opted to unveil them gradually through the Year 6 seasons. The inclusion of Season of the Deep's cutscene featuring The Witness, the abundance of lore drops via Veil Containment, and the overall storyline significantly improved Lightfall's reputation and rectified numerous missteps. Nonetheless, apprehensions persisted that The Final Shape would repeat the same mistakes as Lightfall. Fortunately, Bungie's recent confirmation in TWID suggests otherwise.
Destiny 2's Final Shape Could Face Issues With Cayde-6, New Location, and Seasons
Bungie's statement assured players that the conclusion of Destiny 2's Light and Darkness saga, known as The Final Shape, will be delivered alongside its monumental Raid. This is significant news, as it signifies a departure from the usual reliance on seasonal updates to progress the story that commenced a decade ago. Even Season 24, which is expected to address the aftermath of the final showdown with The Witness, will not contribute to The Final Shape's narrative. While this is an exciting development, it does raise some questions.
Traditionally, Destiny 2 expansions introduce new characters and locations that play integral roles in the initial release, and continue to offer additional content over subsequent seasons, sometimes even spanning years. The reveal trailer for The Final Shape confirms the return of Cayde-6, whose presence is expected to have a profound impact on the storyline for an extended period. However, considering Cayde-6's likely role as a vendor in the upcoming expansion, it is possible that his involvement will primarily revolve around the new locations, whatever they may be.
Other NPCs in Destiny 2, like Fynch from The Witch Queen, also experience this phenomenon. However, these locations receive additional post-launch content that connects to the bigger storyline and expansion. In the case of The Final Shape, its story will be contained within a specific environment, allowing players to witness the culmination of the Light and Darkness saga through the campaign and Raid. It places Bungie in a unique position of creating a new Destiny 2 location that holds significant meaning for a limited time, potentially resulting in consequences for Cayde-6.
Furthermore, The Final Shape marks the first time that Destiny 2 seasons will not be directly tied to the main story. This detachment provides opportunities for self-contained narratives, but it can also be challenging for Bungie as the motivation to experience these stories is no longer solely linked to the overarching events of the series. Nevertheless, it is likely that the seasons will still provide intriguing narrative content, potentially foreshadowing future expansions and directions for the franchise. However, many questions regarding this approach remain unanswered.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.