Destiny 2's Year of Prophecy: Essential Guardian Guide

Get ready, Guardians! Bungie has just revealed an exciting lineup for Destiny 2, featuring two new expansions and significant seasonal and core game updates for both paying and free-to-play players, all under the banner of the "Year of Prophecy."

This year marks a first for Destiny 2, with four "major content beats" planned, including two paid expansions and two major updates accessible to all players. Kicking things off is "Rite of the Nine," a thrilling new take on dungeon diving available to everyone at no extra cost. Whether you're a seasoned dungeon crawler or a newcomer, you'll dive into familiar dungeons like Prophecy, Spire of the Watcher, and Ghosts of the Deep, but with unique twists. Expect to reconnect with Orin and discover refreshed dungeon weapons that will keep even the most seasoned Guardians on their toes.

On July 15, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate launches, marking the beginning of a multiyear saga that will unfold across multiple expansions. This paid expansion reintroduces us to the enigmatic Nine, beings that predate the Traveler. Two characters, new ally Lodi and Warlock Vanguard Ikora, will take center stage as we explore the new destination, Kepler. Inspired by Destiny 2's dungeon puzzles and designed for deep exploration, Kepler promises new enemies, weapons, gear, and destination-specific abilities.

Simultaneously, on July 15, Bungie will roll out "major core game innovations," including revamped armor and gear systems to enhance buildcrafting and a new Portal activity selection screen. Players can choose between Fireteam Ops, Pinnacle Ops, Crucible Ops, and the newly introduced Solo Ops, tailored for solo players looking for quick, self-contained gameplay. With 50 new modifiers, you can customize your gameplay experience, tackle greater challenges, and chase new rewards through curated activity rotations.

As with any new expansion, pre-order incentives are available, including an instantly unlockable Exotic Ghost and Legendary Emblem. Here's what you can expect from the pre-order options:

Destiny 2 Pre-Order Details

The Edge of Fate Pre-Order includes:

• The Edge of Fate Campaign
• New Raid
• 1x Active Rewards Pass
• Pre-Order Exclusive Exotic Ghost (instant unlock)
• Pre-Order Exclusive Legendary Emblem (instant unlock)

Year of Prophecy Edition Pre-Order includes:

• The Edge of Fate and Renegades Campaigns
• New Raid and Dungeon
• 1x Active Rewards Pass
• 3x Rewards Passes
• The Edge of Fate Pre-Order Exclusive Exotic Ghost (instant unlock)
• The Edge of Fate Pre-Order Exclusive Legendary Emblem (instant unlock)
• Renegades Pre-Order Exclusive Exotic Ship (available September 9, 2025)
• Renegades Pre-Order Exclusive Legendary Emblem (available September 9, 2025)

Year of Prophecy Ultimate Edition Pre-Order includes:

• The Edge of Fate and Renegades Campaigns
• New Raid and Dungeon
• 1x Active Rewards Pass
• 3x Rewards Passes
• Instant Unlock Exotic Sniper Rifle: New Land Beyond
• New Land Beyond Ornament and Catalyst (available at launch of Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate)
• The Edge of Fate Pre-Order Exclusive Exotic Ghost (instant unlock)
• The Edge of Fate Pre-Order Exclusive Legendary Emblem (instant unlock)
• Renegades Pre-Order Exclusive Exotic Ship (available September 9, 2025)
• Renegades Pre-Order Exclusive Legendary Emblem (available September 9, 2025)
• Year of Prophecy Exotic Emote (instant unlock)
• Year of Prophecy Exotic Sparrow (available July 15, 2025)
• Dark Side Legends Bundle (3 full armor ornament sets, 1 for each class, instant unlock)
• Secret Stash (1x Exotic Cosmetic, 1x Exotic Cipher, 2x Ascendant Alloys, 3x Ascendant Shards, delivered with each seasonal update)

A Year of Prophecy Collector's Edition is also available, although pre-orders for the physical edition have already sold out.

On September 9, the second major update, Ash & Iron, will go live, followed by the second expansion of the year, Renegades, on December 2. The final major update, Shadow & Order, is scheduled for March 3.

Destiny 2: Renegades, the second expansion in the Year of Prophecy, draws inspiration from the "legendary Star Wars universe" and promises to blend Destiny's unique storytelling and gameplay with themes and elements from the iconic sci-fi franchise.

These updates come as welcome news to many Destiny 2 players following Bungie's layoffs of 220 staff members in July 2024, just under a year after 100 other layoffs at Bungie.

While Destiny 2 keeps Bungie busy, the studio is also working on Marathon, a reboot of their classic franchise. In IGN's Marathon hands-on preview, we expressed confidence that it will satisfy the Bungie PvP itch when it launches on PC and consoles in September.