After a delay that utlimately caused Destiny 2's latest expansion to miss its late 2021 release, Bungie is now preparing to launch The Witch Queen in February 2022. Part of that preparation is getting the fanbase ready to journey into Savathun's Throne World and continue the storyline from the current Season of the Lost. Fans got a sizable look at the upcoming expansion earlier this summer as Bungie provided a deep dive into the expansion, the new Throne World location, and more.
With the added development time, The Witch Queen appears to be shaping up to be one of the biggest expansions that Destiny 2 has seen to date. In addition to Savathun's Throne World and new campaign, the expansion is introducing enemy types called the Lucent Brood, essentially Hive that can wield the light similar to Guardians. Weapon crafting and the Glaive are two new gameplay mechanics the series has never seen before, offering new ways for players to get their hands on more loot.
While the initial community response to the expansion was positive, things have taken a turn with many fans becoming confused and even frustrated at the pricing structure and division of content between each of the versions of the expansion. The community response prompted a statement from Bungie, who attempted to clear up the confusion by confirming which versions of the expansion would gain access to things like new Destiny 2 Dungeons and seasons throughout 2022.
Needless to say, things have gotten a bit complicated for fans, with some even saying Destiny 2 should move to a subscription based service similar to MMOs like World of Warcraft, unlocking all content for anyone subscribed. For now, here's what kind of content fans can expect to have available based on each of the Witch Queen versions.
Pre-order Bonuses
Anyone who preorders the expansion will gain instant access to digital items that can be redeemed from Master Rahool inside of the Tower social space. For brand-new players, the gear can be picked up from the NPC Shaw Han on the Cosmodrome destination.
- Exotic Throne World Ghost Shell
- The Enigma Exotic Emote
- A Legendary Witch Queen Emblem
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Standard Edition
The standard edition of the expansion will run players $40 USD and comes with all expansion content on day one. An important thing to note is that this version doesn't actually come with the Season Pass, which will need to be purchased seperately.
- Witch Queen Story Campaign
- Throne World Destination
- Raid
- Exotic Gear
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition
This is where things start to get a little murkey for players and has been the source of frustrations recently based on the content it contains. Coming in at $80, the Deluxe Edition comes with all Standard Content as well as all Year five season passes. This means players will have four total seasons unlocked automatically when they start.
In addition, Bungie is planning on launching two new Dungeons in 2022, which are activities that offer players new mechanics, bosses, and loot to chase. Once released, these will only be available to players with the Deluxe version of the Witch Queen, requiring that new players and standard edition players pay extra to gain access. While Bungie will have purchase paths available, for now, the company advises players who want to experience them to upgrade to the Deluxe Version. This response has left many fans disappointed and frustrated, as not only does this version cost $40 more, but it doesn't include the Bungie 30th Anniversary pack content, which pushes the price even higher.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition + Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack
Outside of the Witch Queen Collector's Edition which comes with everything and more physical goodies, the other bundle available for purchase is the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition + Bungie 30th Anniversary Edition. This will run players $99.99, and as expected it includes all Deluxe Edition content bundled with the special Bungie 30th Anniversary content, which typically costs $24.99.
This includes the unique Cosmodrome Dungeon, the Gjallarhorn exotic rocket launcher and catalyst, Legendary Destiny 2 weapons, Bungie-themed armor sets, Marathon-themed armor sets, the exotic Gjallarwing sparrow, Thorn-themed armor sets, the Claymore Sword myth, and more.
Part of the communal backlash comes from the a of clarity from Bungie, especially following the reveal earlier this summer. Without the information up front, some fans were not able to make an informed choice regarding their purchase, which was made even more complicated for newer players following the vaulting announcement for the Forsaken expansion. Fans on places like Reddit voiced their opinions that Deluxe Editions should act as a content paywall, instead provide unique bonus materials for those who want to spend more. While there are those on the opposite of the argument, what remains clear is that this issue likely won't be going away anytime soon.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.