WhenDestiny 2removes its expansions from the Xbox Game Pass for consoles the second week of December, a lot will change for Guardians on Xbox devices. Xbox Game Pass has been providing an inexpensive way for Xbox players to enjoyDestiny 2content for a while, and this will result in a lot being taken away. Getting all of theDestiny 2expansions can be expensive, and some fans might not feel like investing the extra money necessary to get their hands on every piece of content they had access to with Xbox Game Pass in the past.
This is especially true for players more interested in the newest activities thatDestiny 2has to offer.The Bungie 30 Anniversary Packwill be released on December 7, just a day beforeDestiny 2removes its paid content from Xbox Game Pass, andThe Witch Queenexpansion is slated to be released a couple of months later on February 22 in 2022. While deciding what to purchase can be hard as these two big releases approach, there is still some good news for players that enjoyDestiny 2but aren’t yet ready to invest almost $100 for its previous expansions.
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Forsaken
For starters, there is the major decision of vaulting theForsakenstoryline inDestiny 2. While this has had some fan backlash, it has also led toForsakenbecoming free on December 8. This is the same day thatDestiny 2will be removed from Xbox Game Pass for consoles, which might even it out for some fans. While players still won’t have access toShadowkeeporBeyond Light, they will be able to play through a campaign that has had almost as much influence on theDestinycommunity asGjallarhorn.
Forsakenwas the first stone laid to pave the way forthe Light and Darkness story inDestiny 2. It solidifies Savathun and Xivu Arath as enemies, with the two Hive Goddesses taking over their brother’s former forces in the Sol system. It also brings the Taken Ahamkara, Riven, to the forefront ofDestiny 2, with her acting as the final boss for the Last Wish raid. While the raid and Dreaming City locations will remain free-to-play in Destiny 2, Guardians should still take the opportunity to experience theForsakenstoryline in December regardless of whether they use Xbox Game Pass.
The Crucible Playlist
Players with Xbox Game Pass will also still have access to the other activities provided by the free-to-play approach thatDestiny 2uses. Like many other free-to-play games with PvP, the Crucible forDestiny 2will continue to be accessible. This includes two of the most competitive modes thatDestiny 2has to offer: the Trials of Osiris and the Iron Banner. Both these modes have gotten love this fall, with the Trials of Osiris being almost completely reworked andIron Banner armor glowbeing added as an entertaining visual effect.
The recentTrials of Osiris experimentsare also a great reason for Xbox Game Pass players to try their hand at the game mode. While they won’t have access to as much endgame content as they have in the past, the Trials of Osiris continues to be a great place for Guardians to test their mettle against one another. Specific rewards from the game mode even feature some of the most sought-after weapons inDestiny 2, with flawless runs providing access to Adept weapons.
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Gambit and Vanguard Activities
Similar to the Crucible is the Gambit game mode. While Gambit has its own node in the UI forDestiny 2, it doesn’t feature as many options as the Crucible or Vanguard. However, Gambit is a fun yet challenging combination of the PvE and PvP aspects ofDestiny 2. Recently, though, players have expressedthe need for Gambit labssince the mode has gone unimproved for almost a year. Despite this, the sometimes-frustrating Gambit mode does act as a great cross between the competitive PvP of the Crucible, with the added adrenaline of clearing out waves of strong PvE enemies.
However, Gambit doesn’t bring the same difficulty that the other pieces of endgame PvE content inDestiny 2do. Through the Vanguard node, players can access the strike playlist as well as certain Nightfall strikes. While strikes that are tied to paid content inDestiny 2won’t be available to players who don’t have that content, there are still several strikes from the base game available. This includes the New Light campaign with The Disgraced strikes as well as some ofthe easiest Grandmaster Nightfall strikes inDestiny 2, like the Lake of Shadows and Arms Dealer.
These types of strikes can be important to getting pinnacle gear and raising a player’s Light level inDestiny 2. There may be weeks that free players miss out on, but with several of the base game’s strikes still in rotation, there are opportunities for those that don’t want to spend extra money onceDestiny 2leaves Xbox Game Pass. These strikes are also great for those fans looking to grind as they prepare their Guardians for the arrival ofThe Witch Queenexpansion.
Destiny 2 on Xbox Game Pass for PC
Destiny 2is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
