Destiny 2: The Final Shape – Everything we know so far

Destiny 2: The Final Shape is finally arriving soon, which means the climactic battle against the Witness in the Traveler's Pale Heart is almost here. The Final Shape is a pivotal expansion for Destiny 2, not only in terms of all the new things it introduces to Bungie's multiplayer FPS, but it's also the culmination of the franchise's Light and Darkness Saga, which all started back in 2014 with Destiny 1 – we're sure that it'll all be worth it in the end for one of the best FPS games of the decade. However, that doesn't mean it's the end of Destiny 2, and The Final Shape will still be adding plenty, with new Episodes paving the road ahead.

After concerning layoffs at Bungie and a long delay, the road to The Final Shape has not been a smooth one, but plenty more has been revealed about the expansion that has players excited, from Prismatic Subclasses, Transcendence, and new Dread enemies to fight – we even got to play it for a few hours recently at a preview event. Here's everything we know about Destiny 2: The Final Shape, from release dates and pre-orders to the story and new abilities.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape news

• As Destiny 2 struggles, Bungie will reportedly face a total Sony takeover if it doesn't hit financial goals.
• Destiny 2 developers want new Prismatic Subclass to "feel a little broken" in The Final Shape.
• All your old Destiny 2 weapons are getting un-sunset in The Final Shape, but there's no way to get back the ones you dismantled.
• Well of Radiance is getting hit hard in Destiny 2 The Final Shape.
• The Final Shape's guns can't be too OP because Bungie's "got to keep the game going" for years.
• Destiny 2 The Final Shape has inexplicably leaked on PS5, so watch out for spoilers in the wild!

Destiny 2: The Final Shape gameplay preview

We were invited to play the new expansion for a few hours which allowed us to venture into the Pale Heart, face the new Dread enemies, and try some of the fancy new weapons, armor, and Prismatic abilities. You can check out our Destiny 2 The Final Shape preview here to get a feel for the gameplay experience.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape release date

The Destiny 2: The Final Shape release date is officially set for the 4th June, 2024. Although there will be a 24-hour maintenance period beginning at 5pm UTC on June 3, so the game will be unplayable prior to The Final Shape's launch. While there's still time, make sure you get all your Destiny 2 The Final Shape prep done to make sure you're ready to face the Witness.

The Destiny 2 expansion was originally mean to be released on February 27, 2024, but was delayed for numerous reasons, with the development team at Bungie explaining that it needed more time to "deliver an even bigger and bolder vision." Bungie was also hit with mass layoffs in October, 2023, which resulted in an estimated 8% reduction to the studio's staff.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape platforms

Destiny 2: The Final Shape will be playable on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). It's highly unlikely that any Destiny 2 expansions will come to Game Pass due to Bungie's partnership with Sony.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape pre-order

There are a few editions of Destiny 2: The Final Shape up for pre-order right now though they offer lots of different extras, so it can be confusing knowing which one is best for you.

• Destiny 2: The Final Shape: $49.99/£42.99
  The Final Shape Expansion + one Episode in the year of The Final Shape (you get whichever Episode is active when you first log in, for free). Pre-ordering now gets you the Final Shell Ghost Shell, Pyramid Vessel Exotic Ship, and an emblem.
• Destiny 2: The Final Shape + Annual Pass: $99.99/£83.99
  The Final Shape Expansion + all three Episodes in the year of The Final Shape ("Echoes", "Revenant", and "Heresy") + The Final Shape Dungeon Key + Tessellation Ornament and Catalyst + Exotic Sparrow + more. Pre-ordering the expansion now instantly grants you the Final Shell Ghost Shell, Pyramid Vessel Exotic Ship, two emblems, an Exotic Emote, and the Tessellation Exotic Fusion Rifle.
• Destiny 2: The Final Shape Collector's Edition: $275/€305
  All Destiny 2: The Final Shape + Annual Pass content listed above + a digital copy of The Final Shape soundtrack + Destiny 1 Tower replica with miniature Zavala, Ikora, and Cayde figurines + more. This limited edition can only be pre-ordered through the Bungie store – UK and EU players should use the EU Bungie store.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape story

The end of Destiny 2 Lightfall saw the Witness create a portal reaching inside the Traveler for reasons unknown. Now in The Final Shape, it's up to Guardians to finally follow and bring the fight to the Witness inside the Traveler's Pale Heart. It's a new, "linear" destination which will then open more after the campaign. This location is influenced by its visitors, so you'll start in a recreation of the Destiny 1 Tower but will journey into more horrific regions tainted by the Witness.

Here, the Witness intends to unite its powers of Darkness with the Traveler's Light to manipulate reality into its 'Final Shape'. What exactly is the Final Shape? Conceptually, it's a perfect, final form or moment for the universe. One where everything is ordered with meaning and purpose. However, what this actually looks like is unclear – what we've seen so far suggests that the Witness is essentially petrifying everything, preserving it for eternity in a stone-like material – and many characters have differing interpretations of this Final Shape.

With the help of new and old allies, including the return of Cayde-6, Guardians must overcome the Witness's apocalyptic plan to save the universe, then who knows what's next?

Destiny 2: The Final Shape Prismatic and new Supers

As you delve into the Pale Heart will also uncover a new Subclass power – Prismatic. This fusion of Light and Darkness available to each of the Destiny 2 Classes, allows certain abilities, Aspects, and even Supers from each of the other five Subclasses to be mixed and matched with bespoke Prismatic Fragments. For example, Hunters can combine the Gunpowder Gamble and Winter's Shroud Aspects with the Strand Grapple, Arcbolt Grenade, and new Storm's Edge Super.

New Supers? Yep, each of the three Classes are getting a new Super ability too. Void Titans will get the axe-tossing Twilight Arsenal, Storm's Edge for Arc Hunters allows for long-range teleports, and Song of Flame empowers Solar Warlocks with massively buffed abilities.

So, if Prismatic Subclasses use other Supers and abilities, does it get anything new? There's an exclusive Destiny 2 Exotic Prismatic Class Item that grants perks from other Exotic armor pieces, but Transcendence is the new Prismatic-exclusive ability that behaves a bit like a Super ability. You first need to charge one Light energy bar and one Darkness energy bar, but once both are filled, Transcendence is ready.

Activate it to temporarily gain increased ability regeneration, increased weapon damage, and increased damage resistance, making you a bit of a powerhouse. Best of all, each Class gets their own Transcendence grenade that fuses two other grenades. Warlocks get the Stasis-Void Freezing Singularity grenade while Transcendent, while Titans can lob an Electrified Snare that merges Arc and Strand, for example.

The original Light and Darkness Subclasses are getting a bit of love, however, and Bungie has published a blog detailing the changes to abilities coming with The Final Shape.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape new Exotic weapons and armor

A Destiny 2 expansion must provide some ridiculous new Exotic weapons and armor, and The Final Shape is no different. For some Exotic weapon examples, all Guardians can get the Still Hunt Sniper Rifle that can be powered up with Orbs of Power to fire Golden Gun shots, a revamped Khovostov Auto Rifle that fires ricocheting bullets, and the Heavy Kinetic Trace Rifle known as Microcosm that shreds shields.

Each Class also gets their own Exotic armor pieces, many of which are focused on Strand for more build opportunities there. Warlocks get the Mataiodoxia chest piece, which causes Strand Arcane Needles to emit suspending bursts when they kill an enemy, and the Speaker's Sight helmet, which turns Healing Grenades into little healing turrets. Titans can look forward to empowered Frenzied Blade strikes thanks to the Wishful Ignorance gauntlets or shoulder-fired rocket volleys with Hazardous Propulsion chest armor. As for Hunters, they can get an improved Threaded Specter with the Balance of Power boots, and can throw bouncing, jolting arc explosives at enemies when activating Ascension or Tempest Strike thanks to the Gifted Convinction chest.

That's only scratching the surface of some of the weapons and armor coming in The Final Shape, and there are plenty of updates coming to existing weapons and armor. If you want to know how your favorite weapons are being tuned, check out this preview blog from Bungie, and if you're after armor changes, read this blog.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape Dread enemies

Additionally, along the journey through the Pale Heart, you'll face a new enemy faction to fight known as the Dread. There are the screaming, bat-like Grim, melee menaces called Husks, Stasis-wielding Omens and their Attendants, and Strand-weaving Harbingers with their Weavers. Joining the Tormentors introduced in Lightfall, these foes will prove to be a serious challenge in combat, especially the Omens and Harbingers with their crowd-controlling Stasis and Strand abilities.

Is The Final Shape the end of Destiny 2?

No. The Final Shape is not the end of Destiny 2 and Bungie has already revealed plans to keep the story going afterwards with Episodes – a different take on the seasonal model that has been running since late 2019 – starting with "Echoes". Note that the roadmap image is out of date but Bungie has not published an updated version. The Final Shape is, however, the end of the "Light and Darkness Saga", which is Bungie's term for Destiny's first decade of stories that began with Destiny 1. An annual expansion for 2025 has not been announced.

Here's every other new game for 2024 and beyond to look forward to, from Assassin's Creed Codename Red to Black Myth: Wukong.