While the pandemic has certainly shifted a lot of release dates and caused delays, the silver lining is that 2022's games lineup is already looking strong. As of Gamescom's Opening Night Live, titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Saints Row have been confirmed for early 2022 release dates, alongside several other already-confirmed games coming throughout February and March. One of which is the next yearly expansion for Destiny 2, The Witch Queen, set to launch on February 22, 2022. While many players will undoubtedly be hopping into the game as soon as The Witch Queen expansion launches, Xbox Game Pass subscribers won't be getting in without paying.
Unlike the Forsaken, Shadowkeep, and Beyond Light expansions that came alongside Destiny 2's inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, The Witch Queen expansion can only be purchased separately for Game Pass subscribers. Of course, this doesn't particularly impact the veterans of Destiny 2, who've likely already purchased the game on another platform and have been playing since 2017. Granted it makes sense: Destiny 2 has been on Xbox Game Pass for an entire year, giving new players the chance to experience Destiny 2 with a lower barrier of entry. However, Bungie's decision to exclude the new expansion from Game Pass forcces an unfortunate but justified decision.
All of Destiny 2's Content Is On Xbox Game Pass, For Now
MMOs and otherwise live service games have found a niche home on Xbox Game Pass. While it's arguable whether or not Destiny 2 is a true-to-form MMO, Bungie's looter shooter was accompanied by titles like The Elder Scrolls Online, Black Desert Online, Fallout 76, and tangentially Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis. Xbox Game Pass subscribers have had the opportunity to try all of these games for a time much longer than the average trial period for comparable MMO games such as Final Fantasy 14. Plus, players can often form a more thorough opinion on how much they enjoy games like these when they have a month or more to experience them.
Same goes for Destiny 2, especially considering what's offered with Xbox Game Pass, as well as the already free-to-play starter content in the game. Players are able to complete all of Forsaken, Shadowkeep, and Beyond Light's questlines, which is the entire story of Destiny 2 up to this point (not counting unplayable seasonal content). Unfortunately, from The Witch Queen onward, all Destiny 2 players on Xbox Game Pass will be shelling out $40 for the next yearly expansion. There is the potential that The Witch Queen content may be available to Game Pass subscribers down the road, but it seems very unlikely that will happen any time soon.
Destiny 2's The Witch Queen Expansion Will Only Be Sold Separetely
On the one hand, this change is a logical choice on the part of Bungie. Previously the publisher had offered the entirety of Destiny 2's content to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, even after the base game had already gone free-to-play. Xbox players had the chance to experience everything that Destiny 2 had to offer, and until February 22, still have the chance to catch up before the new yearly expansion. However, with The Witch Queen only available at full price to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, those who've enjoyed their time with the game will be joining every other platform in paying full price for Destiny 2's next year of content.
Xbox Game Pass was a huge deal for both veterans and new Destiny 2 players, especially since Destiny 2's content roadmap functions on a seasonal structure now. Xbox players in particular would be more likely to opt into purchasing season passes to gain extra rewards if they didn't have to purchase the yearly expansion separately. Of course, The Witch Queen not being included in the Xbox Game Pass version of Destiny 2 is not going to deter any veteran players from purchasing the expansion anyway. However, new players may be more hesitant to jump in and stick with the game, especially if Bungie will be promoting the newest year of content at launch alongside existing battle pass monetization.
Destiny 2's barrier of entry is still quite low on Xbox Game Pass, considering all of the previous expansions (that weren't affected by content sunsetting) are still available with a Game Pass subscription. Yet for those who expected the addition of Bungie's looter shooter on Game Pass to be a more permanent arrangement, Destiny 2's next year of content will be a unified cost in expansion for all fans. Specifically for those who jumped into Destiny 2 because it was "free" on Xbox Game Pass, this is an unfortunate change of pace that could change their minds on keeping up with the looter shooter's continuously evolving narrative.
Fans who love the game will still stick with Destiny 2. Even if the loss of players may be comparatively negligible, it's still an unfortunate ultimatum for those who had previously given the game a shot and got hooked through Xbox Game Pass.
Destiny 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.