It's a big day for Destiny 2 fans as the long awaited expansion Shadowkeep launches officially following a short two week delay. In addition to new content, the franchise makes its first evolution was the free to play version of Destiny 2 also goes live with an aim to further increase the player base. For those who don't want to pay, Bungie is offering quite a bit of content including all of Year 1 and the ability to sample a generous portion of the year 2 material as well. The onboarding process even includes a completely remixed version of the original opening mission from the first game, though longtime fans may remember things a bit differently.
For new Destiny 2 players jumping into the experience today, they'll first select a class and then customize their characters look as expected. From there, the player will wake up in the Russian Cosmodrome area from the first Destiny, find a jumpship, fight off the Fallen, and ultimately land at the central hub location known as The Tower. What's different is this is not how Destiny 2 began, which showcased a devastating attack on the Guardian's Tower and The Traveler, the cosmic being who essentially grants players their abilities through what the game calls the Light.
In Destiny 2: New Light, players are safe and sound in the social hub once they first arrive there and kick off a new set of quests that serve as an introduction to the game. This includes trying out basic modes like finishing a Strike, complete bounties, and more. Ultimately though, once at the Tower, players can do whatever they want, including starting one of the many story campaigns such as the previously mentioned Red War. With nearly two years of content waiting, there won't be any shortage of things to do.
While New Light does offer a ton of content for free, not everything is available without a purchase first. Destinations introduced inside of the Forsaken campaign such as The Tangled Shore and The Dreaming City can be accessed along with their lost sectors, public events, and special quests like Whisper of the Worm and Outbreak Prime. Annual Pass activities from the Black Armory, Season of the Drifter, and The Menagerie are also included. However, without first purchasing the expansion, story campaigns from Year 2, Shattered Throne dungeon, Year 2 raids, and loot will still be locked away.
Destiny 2: Shadowkeep releases October 1, 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: Kotaku