As Bungie prepares for its culminating, massive content expansion in the form of The Final Shape, they’ve been teasing Guardians with the new content approaching in Into the Light. For players who have long given up on Destiny 2 with no hopes of returning, Into the Light may just change your mind.
Following the release of 2023’s “Lightfall”, Bungie seemingly disappointed a lot of new and returning players with an underwhelming new planet in the form of Neomuna, complete disregard for the PvP experience, and content that just generally fell flat.
Lightfall’s disappointment hit the Destiny 2 player base hard. To put it into context, Destiny 2 boasted an impressive 316,000 concurrent players on Steam after Lightfall’s launch. According to SteamDB, Destiny now sits at anywhere between about 40,000 to 70,000 concurrent players.
It’s clear to see interest across the board has taken a nosedive for Destiny 2. And with the troubles that Bungie is currently facing with its parent company, Sony, many wonder just what will happen when The Final Shape arrives. However, Bungie’s latest Destiny 2 update has given a glimmer of hope not just for seasoned veterans, but for old players who wonder if it’s worth coming back.
Destiny 2 Into the Light Is 100% Free
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects about Destiny 2’s Into the Light is that it’s a completely free update that will be accompanied by content for both PvE and PvP players.
If you’re a long-time fan of Destiny 2, you will be able to revisit returning and reprised exotic missions in the form of The Whisper and Zero Hour. However, if you’re looking for a new and improved PvP experience, Into the Light launches with three new Crucible maps, as well as a plethora of changes within the sandbox.
And don’t worry, if you’re concerned about the grind aspect of Destiny 2, especially if you have been away for a while, Bungie has a solution for you as well.
Destiny 2 New Light Tutorial Skip & Kits
In Bungie’s latest weekly news installment, they revealed that upon Into the Light’s arrival, new players will have the option to skip the New Light campaign after completing the second mission. Bungie stated that the reasoning behind this decision is to accommodate players who are already experienced with first-person shooters.
For players who opt not to initially skip the campaign, they will still have the option to do so at any time for the duration of “A Guardian Rises”.
In addition, Bungie plans to help bridge the player gap between new or returning players and veteran players by introducing New Light Kits. According to Bungie, “New Light Kits are bundles that contain a curated set of gear and subclass abilities…themed around specific subclass fantasies to help provide players with a shortcut to buildcrafting”. There will be nine kits in total, one for each subclass.
This feature will be greatly appreciated by Destiny 2 players, as one common criticism has always been how challenging it is for new and inexperienced players to create builds.
Each New Light will contain:
- 1 Exotic weapon
- 2 Legendary weapons
- 4 Rare armor pieces and a Legendary class item
- Unlocked Subclass Aspects and Fragments
Finally, New Light kits will also be accompanied by a short quest. Once finished, players can expect to receive a piece of Exotic armor. Bungie also stated that these kits will be available to all players – new, returning, and seasoned veterans.
Destiny 2 Character Re-Customization & Name Change
Upon the arrival of Into the Light, Guardians will also have the opportunity to revisit their original character customization, just in time for The Final Shape in June. Character re-customization will also be available permanently with this update, meaning that players can choose to modify their character’s appearance at any time, without any limits or constraints.
Not only has this been a highly requested feature by veteran players in Destiny 2, but this also gives new and returning players a chance to embark on their journey with a freshly customized look.
It doesn’t stop there, Destiny 2 players will also have the option to change their in-game name once the Into the Light update drops on April 9. This one-time name change will be completely free, and can be done by logging into Bungie’s website at “bungie.net”. For players who didn’t take advantage of Bungie’s last name change opportunity, you will now have two name changes available to you.
Should You Return To Destiny 2?
Considering all the new additions in Destiny Into the Light in the form of the returning Exotic missions, the new PvE hoard mode activity called Onslaught, new Crucible maps, as well as all of the incentives for new and returning players, there hasn’t been a better time to return to Destiny 2. For a full rundown of all of the new content coming in Destiny 2, feel free to check out our Into the Light guide.
And if Into the Light isn’t enough, Bungie has stated that this new update is in preparation for the launch of The Final Shape on June 4. Destiny 2 has had a bumpy road since its launch in 2017, but things are finally shaping up to be promising, Guardians.
