Summary
WithThe Edge of Fate launching July 15,Destiny 2is sending Guardians all the way to the edge of the Solar System, where Kepler awaits, bearing the secrets of The Nine. But this is just the first piece in a much larger puzzle, as the upcoming expansion will be launching the Fate Saga,Destiny 2’s next major story arc. There have been plenty of questions surrounding the game’s health in recent years, and the state of Bungie, but this recent news is a huge breath of fresh air for the studio, andDestinycan finally reclaim some of its identity.
Despite all the bumps thatDestiny 2has endured throughout its long history, the story has often been an aspect that keeps even the most frustrated players invested in the game. The Light and Darkness Saga has defined so much of the franchise’s history, and while it has delivered plenty of memorable stories, the narrative eventually reached a fairly predictable conclusion. The Fate Saga is Bungie’s next chance to reset story expectations, revitalizing some fundamental questions about the game, and bringing back a feeling that has been missing sinceDestiny 1.
The Edge of Fate Is Bringing Mystery Back to Destiny 2’s Story
Kicking off with theYear of Prophecyin July, The Edge of Fate is making the mysterious Nine the main focus forDestiny’s story for seemingly years to come. These cosmic entities have been at the fringes ofDestiny’s universe since day one, and there has been plenty of speculation about them forming the bedrock of a new story arc. Appearing whimsical, strange, and even hostile at times, The Nine have maintained their distance, speaking through emissaries and cryptic messages, but now the relationship between Guardians and The Nine could change in some very intriguing ways.
It isn’t every day that a decade-long saga comes to an end, and inDestiny’s case, it needed to happen. Bungie’s ability to tell a great story has been strong for a long time now, but with theLight and Darkness Saga, the writing has been on the wall for some time, and most players could see where things would be going. The Witness provided a decent antagonist to see the story out, but it didn’t leave much room for mystery. It was fun riding high on seeing things through to their natural end point, but now the game needs something more.
This isn’t the end of Light and Darkness as mysteries in their own right, as they will be incorporated with dark matter on Kepler.
This is what makesDestiny 2’s Fate Sagaso special. Not since the days ofDestiny 1has there been so much mystery surrounding the franchise. The Nine have been around, but they aren’t a known quantity in the way the Witness was, and there is so much potential for some really exciting reveals to trickle in over the years. There are so many questions surrounding dark matter, what makes something one of The Nine, what conflicts they have between them, and what their plans could be for Guardians.
Obviously, the game can’t completely reset that sense of wonder to exactly the same level asDestiny 1’s halcyon days, when players were clipping intoVault of Glassearly and skipping Xur’s Gjallarhorn, but it’s a great start. Bungie has been through a lot lately, with plenty of turmoil surrounding its finances,Destiny’s many bugs, andMarathon’s rocky reception, so infusing some new hype into the game is very welcome. Once again, the franchise feels like a journey of discovery, with something new around every corner. It is said that Guardians make their own fate, and The Nine seem to be keenly interested in this fact. It may take years to finally figure out why, but that’s what makes The Edge of Fate so exciting.
