Destiny 2 is approaching its fifth anniversary in September, and the franchise has gone a long way since its early alpha days eight years ago. Bungie's looter shooter is not the same as it once was, be it in terms of gunplay and class differences, or the depth of the gameplay loop and how it evolved over the years. One of the constant factors in Destiny 2 and its predecessor was that Bungie wanted to build a world that felt very alive, filled with multiple races, threats from outer space, and plenty of mysteries to unravel.
Destiny 2's Light and Darkness saga is coming to a close with the upcoming expansions, Lightfall and The Final Shape, which will supposedly come full circle with the story that began so long ago. Still, there are plenty of stories that Bungie started to tell through lore books and small hints, but never fully explored thus far. It's too soon to say what will make the cut in Lightfall and The Final Shape and what sort of trails of crumbs will be left behind, but the world of Destiny 2 is so vast that there is definitely room for more stories after the big wrap up.
What Plot Lines Destiny 2 Could Explore in the Future
An interesting character introduced in Destiny 2 is the Drifter, who has been featured at times in the main storyline and even got his own Season. The present of the Drifter is interesting, but what's more fascinating is this character's past. In fact, the rogue Lightbearer survived on a frozen planet where strange creatures made of shadows devoured the Light of his crew members, and he barely made it out alive with a ship made from scrap. The Drifter also seemingly visited the Fourth Tomb of Nezarec, a place that's only mentioned in the stories told by him, but one that sounds both ominous and filled with secrets. Trailing back to the Drifter's journeys would be an incredible payoff to Bungie's world-building.
Speaking of Nezarec, however, this is a character that only seemed exceptionally marginal in the grand scheme of things, as he only appeared in the lore entry associated with the Nezarec's Sin Exotic helm for Warlocks. Nezarec seems to have been a Disciple of The Witness, but it's plausible that his thirst for torture and pain was what drove him away from the principles of the Darkness, which state that life should end with one species dominating the universe. With no life, Nezarec's pleasure in inflicting torment on others would cease to exist, and he could very well be the antagonist of future Destiny 2 expansions once the main saga is finished.
Another intriguing plot point is the very existence of The Nine -- a mysterious group of beings that influence the destiny of the people in the Solar System. The Nine's intentions are not clear, and recent lore books might suggest that they are seeking a way to become corporeal, but to what end remains a mystery. It's very likely that The Nine won't be part of the final confrontation between Light and Darkness in Destiny 2, at least not in their entirety, and this could be a good way to kickstart a new saga.
Lastly, another enthralling enigma remains that of the "dark future" plot line, which is a set of events that occur in the Exo Stranger's own timeline, leading to the end of humanity. According to the Exo Stranger, who turned out to be none other than Elsie Bray, the dark future is one where Guardians succumb to the temptations of the Darkness, relinquishing the Light. Other events happen that trigger this choice, such as the death of Commander Zavala or Eris Morn becoming The Witch Queen, but most of the timeline remains enveloped in secrecy, making it the perfect way to start a new saga that explores these possibilities.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.