Last summer we introduced the Destiny Content Vault (DCV) as part of our commitment to the future of Destiny 2. The DCV was created to help us achieve our vision for the game through our trio of upcoming expansions and beyond. By cycling select content into the DCV, the team has been able to focus on bringing you new activities and adventures at an incredible pace, with weekly updates that introduce new gameplay wrinkles, new activities to enjoy, and that push the Destiny narrative forward.
The impact of the DCV can be seen throughout Destiny 2, from very popular new activities such as Battlegrounds, that have persisted throughout Year 4, to innovations that have made the routine experiences of Destiny better for every player. For example, the DCV has provided a great deal of technical “breathing room” that the team has devoted to important improvements to the Destiny experience. Upgrades such as drastically reducing our patch response times, improving loading times, offering quicker access to UI such as your inventory or the map, and others link directly to the opportunities that the DCV created for the team.
Today we wanted to give you an update on our content strategy for the near future of Destiny 2, as we pave the way for the arrival of The Witch Queen expansion.
Looking Ahead, Looking Behind
Following the release of our 30th Anniversary celebration in December, Year 5 of Destiny 2 launches on February 22, 2022 with the release of The Witch Queen expansion and the Season of [REDACTED], the first of four Seasons that will come your way beginning in 2022. In addition to all that brand new content, we’re bringing a carefully curated selection of content out of the DCV, including a classic raid, two PVP maps from Destiny 2, and one classic PVP map from the original Destiny. We’re excited to share more details on all of this in the months ahead.
Vaulting in Year 5
Beginning on February 22, the Forsaken campaign and the Tangled Shore destination will enter the DCV (Note: The Dreaming City destination will continue to be available), along with Year 4 Seasonal content, including the Presage and Harbinger Exotic missions. We understand the unique value of these definitively Destiny experiences and are investigating ways to reprise and create new exciting Exotic special missions within Destiny 2 for the future.
Vaulting this content will allow us the space to launch The Witch Queen expansion and its new Throne World destination, as well as new features like weapon crafting, the new Legendary difficulty campaign option, the new Glaive weapon archetype, plus all the additional content we have planned for the four new Seasons to come starting in February.
While most of the Year 4 Seasonal content will be vaulted, certain Year 4 content will persist in Year 5, including the Proving Grounds strike and the Battlegrounds activities. Beginning in February, the existing Battlegrounds will be combined with strikes into a new “Vanguard Operations” playlist that will be free for all players. In addition, the Warden of Nothing strike will remain in the game and will be available to all players for free. Lastly, all of Spider’s currency exchange function will be taken over by Master Rahool in the Tower when the Tangled Shore is moved into the DCV.
Relive the Campaign
The Forsaken campaign will be available for free for all players from December 7, 2021 until it enters the DCV in February 2022. If you or your friends have not had a chance to live Forsaken’s epic narrative and experience the origins of Uldren Sov before he became Crow, this will be your chance.
Forsaken Pack
Beginning on December 7, the Forsaken Pack will be available for purchase and will include access to the Last Wish raid and the Shattered Throne dungeon, as well as access to all of the Forsaken Exotics. The Forsaken Pack will also include three Forsaken Ciphers that can be used to instantly unlock your choice of Forsaken Exotics (not including raid and dungeon Exotics) via the Exotic kiosk in the Tower. Everyone who previously purchased Forsaken will automatically own the new Forsaken Pack and will receive the three Forsaken Ciphers directly in their inventory. If you already have every Forsaken Exotic weapon, those Ciphers will be converted to Ascendant Shards.
2022 will be here before you know it and we’re so grateful to all of you who have helped make 2021 such a memorable year for Destiny. We’ve had some amazing experiences together, whether building new adventures for you to enjoy, or playing alongside our fellow Guardians. Destiny is growing and we’re incredibly excited for the future, including the near-term launches of our 30th Anniversary celebration, The Witch Queen expansion, and Season of [REDACTED], as well as those stories that are a bit further away, including Lightfall, The Final Shape, and everything that follows. Whether you’re a New Light or a long-time fan, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting periods in Destiny history.
Thanks for being with us for the ride, and for being part of all the stories yet to come.