Destiny 2 has just unveiled its latest wave of expansions, which will be released in the next few months. While fans are excited about what Edge of Fate has to offer, some are skeptical and even a bit worried about Bungie potentially following a similar path to what Epic Games did with Fortnite.
The concerns aren’t rooted in Destiny 2’s first major expansion this year, Edge of Fate. Instead, fans were dumbfounded in the second one: Renegades, which comes out after Edge of Fate. This expansion draws inspiration from George Lucas’ iconic space opera, Star Wars.
The initial announcement caused a stir. Some fans think a Star Wars-inspired crossover sounds great, while others are unsettled by what feels like tonal whiplash.
Many argue that this crossover doesn’t fit with the lore Destiny 2 has carefully built over the years. To them, Bungie might be straying into Fortnite territory with crossovers that feel more like marketing moves than meaningful additions to the universe.
What Is Renegades?
Renegades represents Bungie’s boldest, most experimental content drop yet, an ambitious leap nearly a decade into Destiny 2’s lifespan. Like Edge of Fate, it follows a smaller expansion model, but Renegades carries a distinct twist: it’s heavily inspired by Star Wars.
According to Bungie, the expansion takes players into a criminal underworld within a lawless frontier, as they chase down the mystery of a new Dredgen, a figure reminiscent of the Drifter somewhere in the Sol System. Players may even live out the fantasy of becoming bounty hunters, a role Guardians have unofficially embodied for years.
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Bungie Clarifies Renegades
Despite appearances, Renegades isn’t a Star Wars crossover in the traditional sense. Bungie has clarified that while George Lucas’ universe inspires the expansion, it still tells an original Destiny 2 story, and yes, it’s canon.
The only direct Star Wars elements are cosmetic items, including guardianship armor inspired by Darth Vader and Kylo Ren as pre-order bonuses.
Though questions remain, Bungie’s clarification has helped temper extreme fan reactions. This is still Destiny 2, after all.
Bungie and Crossovers: A Mixed Bag
Bungie’s recent crossover choices have raised eyebrows. For example, its latest tie-in with Ghostbusters received backlash for feeling out of place within Destiny 2’s lore. Other crossovers, like those with The Witcher and Mass Effect, were more well-received, mainly because the cosmetics matched Destiny’s aesthetic. They even had a Fortnite crossover, but it wasn’t that big.
But Renegades has reignited debate. Lightsabers, blasters, and a full Darth Vader outfit? For some fans, this crosses a line.
It’s clear Bungie is exploring uncharted territory. With Edge of Fate pushing the story beyond the Sol System, Renegades might be the beginning of a more experimental phase for Destiny 2. It may not sit well with longtime players, but it’s also a bold, creative way to attract new ones. And perhaps, it’s precisely what the game needs to stay fresh and unpredictable.
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