Season 22 of Destiny 2 is set to release in late August, and fans are eagerly gathering any available information about the upcoming season. While Bungie has not yet made an official announcement regarding the season's title, there are numerous resources and patterns that can give us insight into what to expect from Destiny 2's latest content update.
Since the release of the Lightfall expansion in early 2023, Bungie has maintained a steady pace of delivering new updates to the game. Although the initial reception to Lightfall was mixed, the studio has been making significant improvements since then. The Season of the Deep, which launched in May, has been well-received, offering enjoyable new activities for both casual and hardcore players. This positive reception bodes well for the live-service game as it continues to provide fresh content leading up to The Final Shape expansion. The recent trailer for this expansion, which will conclude Destiny's 10-year plan, has created excitement among fans, especially with the surprising return of Cayde-6.
Destiny 2's Story May Lean Toward More Second Comings
The thread of Season of the Deep's plot has twisted to the unavoidable resurrection of Savathun, aligning with the theme of character resurrections. It appears that she is the only one capable of pursuing the Witness to the cosmic void created from the Traveler's remains. The Final Shape trailer hinted at a setting reminiscent of an afterlife, and as Season 22 approaches, it will likely reveal more about this location and its connection to the Light.
Savathun's ghost, Immaru, remains alive, paving the way for her return. The extent to which season 22 will focus on this process and convincing Savathun to assist the Guardians is uncertain. However, Destiny 2 has a tradition of providing villains with opportunities for redemption arcs. The franchise has frequently explored the possibilities of a tenuous alliance between former adversaries, as seen with Uldrin and Empress Caiatl. This trope has proven to be a common and effective narrative device in the game's DNA.
Bungie's Mastery of Live Service Foretells Destiny's Future
Destiny 2's seasonal release model operates like clockwork, allowing fans to predict what the next season will likely include even before any official announcement. The end date of the Season of the Deep confirms a late August release for season 22. If it follows the established pattern, season 22 will introduce new loot and a seasonal Exotic weapon, offer a seasonal activity to obtain more Prime Engrams, and unveil story content piece by piece throughout the season. Potential additions, although less certain, may include new Crucible and Gambit maps, as well as further changes to the game's loot-chasing gameplay loop.
Another highly anticipated feature during season 22 is the return of a legacy Raid. While it is uncertain which Raid specifically will be brought back, recent leaks suggest that Crota's End is the likely candidate. Taking into consideration leaks, pattern inference, and the impending conclusion of the Light and Darkness Saga, all indications point towards Season 22 being a big success. At the end of the Season of the Deep, a Destiny Showcase will provide a sneak peek into the new season and share more information about The Final Shape. With the upcoming years of 2022 and 2024 promising significant developments for Destiny, as long as Bungie delivers, fans can expect to be pleasantly surprised.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
