Forsaken Destiny 2 Expansion: Bungie’s Ambitious but Uncertain Path Forward
This week, Bungie has been making headlines due to the unexpected layoffs that have rocked the studio. As they deal with the aftermath, the focus has shifted back to the game itself. Bungie has been speaking extensively, both privately and publicly, about their upcoming expansion, “The Final Shape.” They have expressed their desire for it to surpass the quality of their previous top-tier expansions, such as The Taken King, Forsaken, and The Witch Queen.
It’s arguable that Forsaken was the pinnacle of Destiny 2 expansions, given its exceptional quality and the vast amount of content it introduced. It brought two new zones, a raid and a dungeon, numerous exotic weapons and armor, PvP maps, strikes, subclasses, and even a new enemy race. When comparing this to what we’ve received since then, it’s clear that expansions have become less substantial.
The Final Shape has already faced a delay of a year, thanks to the decision to insert Lightfall as a pre-expansion. Now, there are reports suggesting it may face another four-month delay. While Bungie has yet to confirm this, it raises concerns about the expansion’s scope and whether it can live up to the standards set by Forsaken.
If we consider Forsaken as the benchmark, it’s understandable to worry that The Final Shape may already be at risk of falling short. Forsaken, under Activision’s support, was a sprawling expansion that set a high bar for the modern Destiny 2 experience. It introduced an astonishing amount of content, far surpassing what we have seen in recent expansions. The Final Shape, based on what we know so far, appears to have less content in comparison.
While we can’t be certain about the complete scope of The Final Shape, based on the information available, it’s safe to assume that it will offer fewer zones, raids, PvP maps, strikes, and subclasses compared to Forsaken. Bungie has already advised players to not expect anything on the same level as Forsaken again.
This raises the question of how Bungie intends to create the ultimate expansion they desire if it isn’t better than its predecessors, particularly Forsaken. Relying solely on a compelling narrative or campaign setpieces may not be enough to capture the same level of excitement. Volume played a crucial role in Forsaken’s success, and it’s unclear if The Final Shape can match that.
Bungie has provided some insights through their Vidoc, but it still feels like there is a lack of information about The Final Shape. Even Lightfall, with the addition of the entirely new elemental subclass called Strand, offers more than the three new supers provided by The Final Shape. While internal reports suggest that The Final Shape is promising, it seems unlikely that it will be able to rival the impact of Forsaken based on what we know so far.
Only time will tell if Bungie can deliver an expansion that lives up to the high expectations set by Forsaken. As players anticipate The Final Shape, it’s essential to manage expectations and remain cautiously optimistic about what Bungie has in store for Destiny 2.
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