Bungie hopes Destiny 2 'Codename: Frontiers' strategy shift can overcome expansion fatigue

With the Destiny franchise now a decade old, Bungie has revealed a raft of changes will hit Destiny 2 as part of a new saga codenamed 'Frontiers.'

Game director Tyson Green noted yearly expansions "dominated" nearly all of Bungie's development efforts. By switching to medium-sized content drops, the Destiny 2 team hopes to "explore and innovate" within the game.

The changes will begin in 2025, starting with 'Codename: Apollo.' Instead of taking the form of another large-scale expansion, Apollo will be split into two paid updates ('Arsenal' and 'Surge') in summer and fall. Those paid updates will be accompanied by four free seasons. 'Codename: Behemoth' will continue that trend in winter 2025 and spring 2026.

Following layoffs at Bungie in late July, it was reported the studio would consider axing yearly expansions to focus on smaller, free content drops. This new approach appears to confirm those rumblings.

According to Green, Bungie wants to challenge the "idea of what a Destiny experience can be. [...] Each expansion will present a new opportunity to try something different."

He specifically said non-linear campaigns, exploration experiences (a la Metroidvanias), and roguelike or survival shooter formats were being prototyped. He confirmed a non-linear structure will be used in Apollo.

Bungie also plans on tweaking Destiny 2's UI, activities, and rewards. Green acknowledged that Destiny has become "too complex" and "rigid," and hopes the new changes will liven up the decade old game.

"We believe it's time for Destiny to change and evolve, and that our community wants this game to grow and innovate too," he said. "And to do that, we need to start breaking some of the molds."

The full, broad outline for Bungie's new gameplan for Destiny 2 can be read here. We've also posted Bungie's updated roadmap below.