Lightfall, the new expansion for Destiny 2
Destiny 2 Lightfall was supposed to be released in 2022, one year after the launch of the Witch Queen expansion. However, Bungie was forced to review its schedule, due to the health context and the vagaries of development. Finally, the Witch Queen was only released in February 2022. Thus, it was logical to wait at least a year before discovering the new expansion of Destiny 2.
What to expect with this new extension ?
The story of Lightfall takes place after the plot of the previous expansion. In fact, the events of the Witch Queen will have a significant impact on the story arc and universe of Destiny 2. They'll eventually leave behind the idea of light vs. darkness, according to Bungie Studios. The developer is preparing the future with Lightfall (or Eclipse in French).
In this campaign, you'll start in Neomuna, a city on Neptune under siege by Calus and the Shadow Legion. The former Emperor Cabal will return to the storyline as a follower of the Witness. If you missed the previous expansion, he was revealed as the main antagonist at the end of The Witch Queen.
It is a central character for the sequel, according to the writers.
In Neomuna, you will discover an advanced civilization that did not experience the Fall by living in hiding. The city is home to humans spared by the event, namely the Cloud Mobs. These local guardians will be your first allies against the Witness and his disciple Calus. However, the enemies are clearly determined to finish off the Light and the Traveler.
Moreover, they are supported by the Tormentors.
A new doctrine: Filobscur
The Filobscur is an announced doctrine for Lightfall. This new feature is based on the manipulation of an alternative universe. More than just an accessory ability, this new element helps enrich the gameplay. It allows you to evolve in a different way in the game.
Like Spider-Man, you'll be able to launch yourself between rooftops or hang onto vehicles.
This new power also affects the dynamics of battle. During melee, you will have the ability to exploit the vertical dimension of the setting. You can also use the grappling hook to grab items or control a group of enemies.
However, you will need time to master this new doctrine.
A new enemy race: The Tormentors
Tormentors are huge, relentless monsters. They have gigantic scythes that are remarkably effective for ranged attacks. With these tools, they can also grab you and pull you in to finish you off.
These true terrors can also drain the life from their opponents. Therefore, you must be well prepared technically to face them.
This new enemy race deserves to be a boss in an MMO or other free-to-play FPS . From Lightfall on, you will have to face them on the field. These giants can appear at any time to support Shadow Legion troops. As a result, melee is going to be particularly challenging.
You can still count on the potential of Filobscur in battle.
What's New in Destiny 2
As soon as the Witness appeared, Destiny 2's storyline accelerated to complete the saga of Darkness and Light. This story arc should indeed end with the next expansion called The Final Form. Lightfall is the penultimate chapter of the saga.
In this context, Bungie Studios is already giving a glimpse of what's to come in the Guardians universe.
You can count the Filobscur, the Tormentors and the hidden city of Neomuna among the notable new features. The Eclipse expansion is also an excellent opportunity to launch 6-player matchmaking. On the other hand, the developer is considering various changes to the user experience.
It will introduce a centralized interface for customization options and a feature to save up to 10 builds per character.
With these options, you can easily change builds depending on the situation. The game will also feature various changes to the progression system. Players will now have the ability to set more specific objectives. Finally, the Praise function will allow you to thank the participants of a raid.
The community will be able to value the best allies in battle. This system will be very useful for the Squad Search option planned for later this year.
An innovative art direction !
The art direction in Lightfall is much different than in previous expansions. The change is crystallized by the settings of the city of Neomuna and Saturn. To make a difference, the developer has created a metropolis filled with neo-pop and cyberpunk influenced skyscrapers.
The rendering is really impressive.
The Filobscur also adds verticality to the setting. So you can rediscover the game world through the vertical dimension and the environment of Saturn. The sparrow also looks different with this new approach to the world of guardians.
The same goes for the Vex network, which is making a comeback in this brand new setting.
When will the Destiny 2 Lightfall expansion be released?
Destiny 2 Lightfall will be released on February 28, 2023 at 9 a.m. PST. The date has already been postponed several times. Nevertheless, the Bungie Studios team seems more confident this time around. Pre-orders have also been available for some time.
In addition, a first raid is already scheduled for March 10, 2023.
The different versions should be released at the same time on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. The developer wants to encourage cooperation and strengthen the bonds within the community. The launch of the expansion will also mark the beginning of the Season of Resistance (Season 20).
With this theme, raids and fights are more than promising.