Destiny 2: Year of Prophecy's Essential Guardian Guide

Prepare yourselves, Guardians — Bungie has just revealed what's in store for Destiny 2, featuring two new expansions alongside major seasonal and core game updates available to all players, both paying and free-to-play. All of this content falls under the umbrella of the "Year of Prophecy."

The Year of Prophecy marks the first time the game will deliver four major content releases, consisting of two paid expansions and two significant game updates. The expansions require purchase, while the updates are free for everyone.

First is Rite of the Nine, a "fresh take on dungeon diving designed for experienced dungeon crawlers and newcomers alike," which is now available to all players at no extra cost. While dungeons like Prophecy, Spire of the Watcher, and Ghosts of the Deep will be familiar to veterans, even seasoned Guardians will encounter unique twists, including reconnecting with Orin and new versions of dungeon weapons.

Then, on July 15, the brand-new expansion, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, arrives. This paid expansion launches a "multi-year saga unfolding across several releases" and reintroduces the Nine—ancient, powerful beings predating the Traveler—while highlighting two characters: new ally Lodi and Warlock Vanguard Ikora.

The expansion unfolds on the new destination Kepler, designed to "emulate the puzzle-solving and navigation found in Destiny 2’s dungeons, encouraging deep exploration, mystery, and player-driven discovery." Look forward to new enemies, weapons, gear, and location-specific abilities.

Also on July 15, "major core game improvements" go live, featuring revamped armor and gear systems "to deepen buildcrafting possibilities" and a new activity selection interface called the Portal.

"Players can easily choose between Fireteam Ops, Pinnacle Ops, Crucible Ops, and the new Solo Ops," Bungie explained. "Fireteam Ops and Pinnacle Ops support fast-paced team play and longer cooperative modes, while Solo Ops are tailored for players seeking short, self-contained sessions without requiring a team.

"Additionally, players can customize activities to match their preferred playstyle and reward goals. Fifty new modifiers allow deeper customization and present tougher challenges, and curated activity rotations ensure fresh content is always available."

As with any new expansion, pre-order incentives are up for grabs, including an instantly unlocked Exotic Ghost and Legendary Emblem. Full details are listed below:

Destiny 2 Pre-Order Details

The Edge of Fate Pre-Order includes:

The Edge of Fate CampaignNew Raid1 Active Rewards PassPre-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 CampaignsNew Raid and Dungeon1 Active Rewards Pass3 Rewards PassesThe 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 CampaignsNew Raid and Dungeon1 Active Rewards Pass3 Rewards PassesInstant Unlock Exotic Sniper Rifle: New Land BeyondNew 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 (1 Exotic Cosmetic, 1 Exotic Cipher, 2 Ascendant Alloys, 3 Ascendant Shards, delivered with each seasonal update)

A Year of Prophecy Collector's Edition is also available, though physical pre-orders are already sold out at the time of writing.

On September 9, a second major update — Ash & Iron — goes live, followed by the year's second expansion, Renegades, launching on December 2. Finally, the Shadow & Order update arrives on March 3.

Destiny 2: Renegades, the second expansion in the Year of Prophecy, draws inspiration from the "legendary Star Wars universe," blending Destiny’s own storytelling and gameplay with themes and features from the iconic sci-fi series.

This news is a welcome development for the Destiny 2 community, especially after Bungie conducted layoffs of 220 employees — 17% of its workforce — in July 2024, less than a year after cutting 100 additional jobs.

Of course, Bungie isn't focusing solely on Destiny 2. Marathon, revealed in May 2023, is a revival of the classic Bungie franchise. We recently got our first real look at the game; in IGN's hands-on preview of Marathon, we noted: "After spending considerable time with Marathon in its alpha state, I'm optimistic it will satisfy the Bungie PvP craving that's been building for years. Let's hope they deliver a hit when it lands on PC and consoles this September."