Destiny 2 fans have a lot of content to look forward to over the next few months. With the release of the Witch Queen expansion in February being prefaced by Bungie’s 30 Anniversary event and the current Season of the Lost, there’s going to be a ton to do. However, one thing that a lot of players have started discussing recently, and understandably so, is the cost required to participate in these different aspects of the Destiny 2 experience.
Gaming is something that can cost a lot of money, and the content confirmed for the Witch Queen expansion has raised some questions and concerns from the Destiny 2 community. With different price tags for things like The Witch Queen and its standard, deluxe, and anniversary deluxe editions, some players feel like there’s been a split in content for undiscernible reasons. The 30 Anniversary Pack itself costs $24.99, but can also be bundled in the Witch Queen Anniversary Deluxe Bundle for $99.99, and these two contrasting price points raise the question of whether it is worth it.
Gjallarhorn and More
From a gameplay perspective, the 30 Anniversary Pack seems like it will be worth the money that players will spend on it, but it’s still important to dissect what comes with it. One of the most notable pieces of content is the Gjallarhorn rocket launcher, which many fans of the first Destiny game will recall fondly. The only complication with Gjallarhorn’s inclusion in the anniversary pack is that it can feel like players are expected to pay almost $25 for any high-tier exotic weapons.
While this isn’t exactly the case, the thought can be hard to shed. Other aspects of the Destiny 2 anniversary pack are related to Gjallarhorn in one way or another, with the inclusion of the Gjallarwing sparrow and a Gjallarhorn weapon ornament and exotic catalyst being notable pieces of collector’s content, but not much more. While it will be awesome to see another great Destiny exotic weapon added to Destiny 2, the fact that it will be behind a paywall doesn’t necessarily feel like the way to go.
On top of this, it can kind of feel like Gjallarhorn is expected to be what sells Destiny 2's 30 Anniversary Pack. While there is a new loot cave-themed dungeon being added with the anniversary pack, most of the other content included will be cosmetic items. This includes a collection of armor ornaments that are modeled after the exotic hand cannon Thorn, as well as other ornaments that celebrate past Bungie titles like Marathon and streetwear ornaments that feature some nods to the Halo franchise.
While these individual ornaments have cool aesthetic, it feels out of place for everything to be tied into the anniversary pack in an all-or-nothing situation, particularly with a highly coveted weapon like Gjallarhorn in the mix. It can make the almost $25 price point hard to justify, especially since so much of what is included seems to be focused on cosmetics. At the same time, the 30 Anniversary Pack itself also feels overshadowed by the Witch Queen expansion and the content that has been announced for Year 5 of Destiny 2.
Destiny 2 Dungeons
While many fans have commented on what has been confirmed to be coming with the Witch Queen expansion, its content can make the Anniversary Pack feel a little dry. This is partly because of how much more players expect to get gameplay-wise in comparison, but also because of similar pricing issues. Many fans aren’t necessarily thrilled about the idea of having to pay for dungeons, since the activities in the past have traditionally been rolled out as part of other pieces of content.
The idea of having to pay for the newest dungeon in December for the anniversary and then put down more money in February for dungeons in 2022 can start to feel harrowing. This is very much where personal preference comes in and how players plan to enjoy Destiny 2 in the coming months. For those that see themselves putting a lot of time into the new Cosmodrome dungeon, then the 30 Anniversary Pack is likely going to be an investment that keeps on giving. While the entire loot table for the activity probably won’t be known until the dungeon releases, past dungeons like the Prophecy Dungeon can be a good example of how other pieces of content could be added post-release as an extension of Destiny 2 quality-of-life changes.
On the other hand, if a player doesn’t see the dungeon as an experience they’re interested in, then the 30 Anniversary Pack can lose a lot of its value very fast. Destiny 2's new cosmetic items do look visually impressive so far, and Gjallarhorn is a beloved part of Destiny’s history, but paying more than $20 for any of these feels like a bit much. The idea of paying for weapons specifically doesn’t feel so great, but as long as Destiny 2 keeps its current financial model, there are going to be different ways that bottom-lines will have to be met. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means that players will likely have to continue to adjust what they expect for free from Destiny 2, starting with the 30 Anniversary Pack and the community event.
Is it Worth It?
Overall, the question of if the 30 Anniversary Pack is worth it still comes down to individual preference, but there are some key ways for fans to decide if it’s right for them. Players that put countless hours into Destiny 2 are likely going to be happy that they spent money on the 30 Anniversary Pack, and likely would benefit from the combo Witch Queen Deluxe Edition and 30 Anniversary Pack. The opposite is true for those that don’t put a ton of time into Destiny 2, however.
For players that might be focused on the stories of expansions, and even the narratives for seasonal content like Season of the Lost, then the 30 Anniversary Pack might be a waste of money. It’s true that it comes with some flashy pieces of content and brings back Gjallarhorn, which could be a better Eyes of Tomorrow, but other than that it’s lacking for casual players. There doesn’t look to be any significant story content, and the 30 Anniversary Pack itself feels aimed at those that enjoy the grind more than anything.
That being said, there is still a third subset of Destiny 2 fans that might just want the cosmetics. This is a perfect reason to get the 30 Anniversary Pack, and falls in line a lot with those that enjoy putting countless hours in. In the end, the $24.99 price tag feels more like a purchase for those that just enjoy every aspect of playing Destiny 2 rather than those who want to push the game’s story forward. This might make the 30 Anniversary Pack somewhat divisive, but well worth it for fans who know they’ll enjoy what they’re buying and want to look back on other iconic Bungie games like Halo 3.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.