Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is Bungie’s long-running sci-fi looter shooter that blends MMO-style progression with tight first-person gunplay. As the follow-up to the original console Destiny, it continues the story one year after Rise of Iron while broadening the formula with more destinations to explore, more activities to grind, and a steady stream of seasonal changes.

Publisher: Bungie
Playerbase: High
Type: First Person Looter Shooter
PvP: Multiple PvP Options
Release Date: September 8, 2017
Pros: +High-end presentation and polish. +Flexible builds and loadouts. +Excellent moment-to-moment shooting. +Strong raid and encounter design. +Co-op is consistently rewarding.
Cons: -Big updates can be uneven in quality. -A large portion of the best content is paywalled behind expansions. -Older content is sometimes removed from the game.

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Overview

Destiny 2 Overview

Destiny 2 is a sci-fi looter shooter with MMO sensibilities, built around repeatable PvE content, chase-worthy gear, and a social endgame. You pick from the familiar trio of Guardian classes (Warlock, Hunter, Titan), then lean into different subclasses and super abilities to shape how you fight. The sequel takes place one year after the last expansion of the original Destiny and, from a structure standpoint, it feels bigger and more convenient: more zones, more NPC hubs and vendors, a wider menu of matchmade activities, and quicker movement between destinations without spending time stuck in orbit.

While the core experience is free to play, the headline campaigns, raids, and much of the freshest endgame content are tied to paid expansions. That split is important to keep in mind if you are jumping in for the first time, because Destiny 2 can be both very generous up front and very expansion-driven once you start chasing the best rewards.

Destiny 2 Key Features:

  • Years of Updates – Backed by 6+ years of additions, including multiple large-scale expansions and ongoing content drops.
  • Built for Fireteams – Most of the game shines with friends, whether you are running story missions, farming strikes, or tackling raid-style endgame challenges.
  • Competitive Variety – A broad PvP offering with modes such as Survival, Countdown, Showdown, Supremacy, Breakthrough, Lockdown, Clash, Control, Mayhem, Momentum Control, and Team Scorched.
  • Gear Chasing at Its Core – A huge pool of weapons and armor rolls encourages experimentation, min-maxing, and specialized builds.
  • Clan Tools Included – Official clan support makes it easier to organize groups, schedule raids, and find consistent teammates.

Destiny 2 Screenshots

Destiny 2 Featured Video

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen - Gameplay Trailer

Full Review

Destiny 2 Review

Destiny 2’s biggest draw is still the same thing Bungie has always done well, the feel of shooting and movement. Weapons have clear identity, abilities complement gunplay instead of replacing it, and encounters are designed to keep you rotating between positioning, cooldown management, and target priority. Even basic activities can feel satisfying because the game’s feedback loop is so strong, from sound design to hit reactions to the cadence of abilities and supers.

Progression is driven by collecting better gear and refining your loadout. In practice, this means you are constantly weighing weapon archetypes, perk rolls, and armor stats to support a preferred playstyle. The class trinity is easy to understand at a glance, but there is enough depth in subclasses and builds to keep experimentation interesting, especially when you start tailoring kits for specific activities like high-difficulty PvE or competitive PvP.

On the PvE side, Destiny 2 is at its best in coordinated content. Raids in particular remain a highlight of the genre, leaning on mechanics and communication rather than raw damage alone. Matchmade activities provide a steady path for solo players too, but the most memorable moments typically come from planned runs with a group, where the encounter design has room to breathe.

PvP is robust in terms of mode selection, and it benefits from the same excellent gun feel. The experience can vary depending on balance shifts and the current sandbox, but the foundation is strong enough that the Crucible remains a major pillar for players who like refining aim, learning maps, and testing builds under pressure.

The main drawback is not how Destiny 2 plays, but how it evolves. Major updates can be inconsistent, and the game’s content strategy has historically meant that some older activities and locations are removed over time. In addition, although the free-to-play entry point is real, anyone looking for the full modern Destiny experience should expect to buy expansions to access much of the most relevant endgame and narrative content.

Overall, Destiny 2 is an excellent choice for players who want a cooperative shooter with MMO-style goals, a long-term gear chase, and high-end group challenges. If you prefer a game where content is permanently preserved or where the entire experience is included without expansion purchases, its structure may be frustrating despite the quality of its core gameplay.

System Requirements

Destiny 2 System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: Intel Core i3-3250 3.5 GHz / Pentium G4560 3.5 GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz
RAM: 6 GB RAM
Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 660 2GB or GTX 1050 2GB / Radeon HD 7850 2GB
Hard Disk: 104 GB or more

Recommended Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: Intel Core i5 2400 3.4 GHz or i5 7400 3.5 GHz / AMD Ryzen R5 1600X 3.6 GHz
RAM: 8 GB RAM
Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 970 4GB or GTX 1060 6GB / AMD R9 390 8GB
Hard Disk: 104 GB or more

Music

Destiny 2 Music

Coming soon!

Additional Info

Destiny 2 Additional Information

Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Activision Blizzard

Director: Luke Smith
Composer:
Michael C. Salvatori
Writer: Christopher Schlerf

Release Dates

PS4/XBO: September 8, 2017
PC (Windows): September 6, 2017

Development History / Background:

Destiny 2 was publicly revealed in November 2014, with Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg discussing it early on. It was initially targeted for September 2016, but Bungie later confirmed on February 11, 2016 that the release window shifted to 2017.

Development support came from Vicarious Visions and High Moon Studios, helping Bungie scale up production for the sequel.

A key difference from the first Destiny was the PC release, with distribution handled through Blizzard’s launcher at launch. Multiple editions were planned for sale (including Collector’s, Limited, Digital Deluxe, and Standard), and pre-orders included access to a beta. An Expansion Pass was also offered to bundle access to the first two expansions.

Destiny 2 arrived on Battle.net on September 6, 2017. Bungie and Blizzard later split in early 2019, and Bungie took over publishing responsibilities.

The game later announced a shift to a free-to-play model on September 17, while keeping expansions as paid content. Since that change, the playerbase has grown substantially, and Destiny 2 is frequently listed among the most-played titles on Steam.