The Final Shape, the massive expansion capping off Destiny and now Destiny 2’s decade-long Light And Darkness saga, which has defined virtually the entire realm of this science-fantasy space opera cleverly disguised as an MMO shooter, couldn’t be rushed. Bungie is glad it delayed it. The additional time – and the extra polish that enabled – was essential as the developer fought to live up to the likes of Destiny’s renowned Taken King and Destiny 2’s equally regal Witch Queen. According to expansion lead Catarina Macedo, it was about putting The Final Shape on the same high shelf as “those really good expansions.”
Destiny 2 players have spent years watching, romanticising and slowly approaching the horizon. It’s long been felt that the big thing always existed just ahead of the current game, with each expansion bringing players a little closer to it. As its title implies, then, teases and broad strokes and setup wouldn’t be enough for The Final Shape. It’s time to stop asking questions and start answering them. We’ve reached the horizon. The Final Shape needed to be epic, climactic, specific. Worthy. It needed to play some big cards – and, based on what we’ve seen, it has done so.
Now that it’s finally here and players the world over have had their showdown with the Witness, Bungie can stop worrying about how to make good on its ten-year promise, and instead start worrying about how to follow it up. As though heading off player concerns, with some worries inflamed by layoffs which followed reports of internal shortfalls after Lightfall’s less-than-stellar reception, Bungie has repeatedly stressed that The Final Shape is not the end of Destiny 2, that the game still has gas in the tank. But this is the end of Destiny 2 as we’ve known it for years. Beginning in year ten of this franchise, a new model built around three standalone Episodes, each containing three Acts lasting about six weeks apiece, is replacing the well-worn seasonal model.
With the Light And Darkness saga officially finished, once these Episodes have explored the effects of our fight with the Witness, we’ll be in uncharted waters. Even the shape and timeline of the next pillar expansion (which still seems essential for a game that apparently can’t survive expansion has been resolved. Just as had a lot to live up to, the Episodes in year ten now have a lot to prove. As Bungie prepares to “break the rules of the universe” a bit, as assistant game director puts it, it must also answer the big question from the game’s community: now what?
