While the response to Lightfall was certainly mixed,Destiny 2fans have been thrilled with Season of the Deep thus far. The story is intriguing; fans are anxious to see what happens to Sloane as the Taken corruption consumes her, while the latest cinematic provides some much-needed answers on The Witness and their goal. ThePlayStation crossovercosmetics, though pricey, are stunning. And best of all, the gameplay within Season of the Deep is terrific.
Whether players are gunning down enemies on Titan’s rigs during Salvage missions or exploring the planet’s ocean on Deep Dives, they are taking in some sights that are either much-missed or never-before-seen. During their downtime, they can engage with the fun new fishing activity, and Bungie has done a terrific job of tying the Season’s cosmetics and weapons to its theme. Ultimately, it is the underwater theme that makes Season of the Deep so great, and Bungie should take things in a similarly bold direction with the nextDestiny 2season. Specifically, it should bring Guardians to the skies.
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Destiny 2’s Next Season Should Go Full Tears of the Kingdom
Though details are scarce about what will unfold inDestiny 2’s next Season, with many expecting major story ramifications sinceThe Final Shapeis looming closer, from a gameplay perspective a Season focused on the sky could be thrilling. What makes it so appealing is the addition of Strand and the ability to grapple around a map, something that Bungie could absolutely lean into with some level design inspired byThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
While wackyplayer creations inTears of the Kingdommay be its biggest gift to the wider gaming community, the brilliantly crafted sky islands are also a sight to behold. In a game with movement as fun asDestiny 2, a location that resembles the version of Hyrule seen in Nintendo’s latest hit could be just what Season 22 needs to make an impact. Exploring oceans and fighting through an entirely new environment has raised the bar, but by releasing a season with an opposite yet equally ambitious theme, Bungie could replicate the success of Season of the Deep.
As for where these hypothetical sky islands could be added, there are a few intriguing options. One would be to bring back Io just likeSeason of the Deeppartially restored Titan, allowing the seasons to complement each other in another way while continuing to feel very different. Io’s aesthetic would allow for some islands that resemble Hyrule’s visually as well, though perhaps the Dreaming City would be an even better place for such content. After all, it has not been relevant for some time now despite being a gorgeous location. Further, it would be easier for Bungie to add sky islands to an existing planet as opposed to unvaulting an old one.
Aside from just some new missions on floating islands that push players to utilize Strand’s movement to its full effect, a side activity as distinct asDestiny 2’s fishingcould be added. Perhaps players could train with Osiris once again, this time in a Strand obstacle course that pits them against other Guardians. Gamers could race through the sky with no cooldown on their grapples, chaining through rings and trying to beat other players in the nearby area to the finish line. At the end, the winner could receive a special chest with better loot, and triumphs could task gamers with finishing quickly or beating their opponents a certain number of times.
While sky islands can compete with undersea areas, and PvP Strand competitions could give players a side activity on par with fishing, Season 22 could also lean into the sky theme with its Season Pass. Just like Season of the Deep’s armor sets being tied to water, with scuba gear and jellyfish being the inspirations, a sky-themed season could offer cosmetics based on flight suits and birds. The Exotic weapon could also be sky-themed, letting players launch enemies straight into the air or letting them deal twice as much damage when in the sky. Ultimately, Season of the Deep’s greatness means that Season 22 is in danger of feeling bland, so a similarly bold concept could be whatBungieneeds to make an impact.
Destiny 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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