Destiny 2: Forsaken
Guardians seek vengeance for Cayde-6 in the Reef.
Destiny 2: Forsaken is a major expansion for Destiny 2, a first-person shooter by Bungie. Released on September 4, 2018, it represents the third expansion and the second year of extended content for the game. The expansion is notable for addressing player and critic criticisms through fundamental changes to core gameplay, introducing a new PvE/PvP hybrid mode called Gambit, and adding the game's first dungeon.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Destiny 2: Forsaken
- Developer
- Bungie
- Publisher
- Activision (2018–2019) / Bungie (2019–present)
- Director
- Scott Taylor
- Producer
- Christopher Barrett
- Composer
- Michael Salvatori / Skye Lewin / Rotem Moav / Pieter Schlosser
- Series
- Destiny
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One · Stadia · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- September 4, 2018
- Genre
- Action role-playing, first-person shooter
- Modes
- Multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Forsaken revolves around the player's Guardian seeking to avenge the death of Cayde-6 at the hands of the Awoken Prince Uldren Sov. Uldren, corrupted by the Darkness, was searching for his lost sister, Queen Mara Sov, both thought to have died in Destiny: The Taken King (2015). Along their journey, players face the Scorn, undead versions of the Fallen race revived and morphed into a new race. The expansion adds the Tangled Shore and the Dreaming City as new playable environments, with the Dreaming City accessible after completing the main campaign and a post-campaign mission. A new raid, 'Last Wish', opened on September 14, 2018, and its first completion triggered a three-week curse cycle in the Dreaming City, opening new activities including the game's first dungeon, 'The Shattered Throne', available on September 28, 2018.
Reader's Guide
Forsaken marked a turning point for Destiny 2, directly responding to criticisms with fundamental changes to core functionality via patch 2.0. It introduced a seasonal model of smaller content packages released periodically between major expansions, which continued until The Final Shape (2024). The expansion's Annual Pass included Season of the Forge (December 2018), Season of the Drifter (March 2019), and Season of Opulence (June 2019), bridging events to the next expansion, Shadowkeep. Seasonal content was removed from the game with the release of Beyond Light in November 2020, except for Gambit Prime from Season of the Drifter, which replaced the original three-round Gambit. Upon the release of The Witch Queen in February 2022, Forsaken's campaign and the Tangled Shore destination were removed as part of the 'Destiny Content Vault' initiative. Ahead of removal, the campaign was made free-to-play in December 2021, and a Forsaken Pack was released granting access to endgame content and exotic gear that remained.
Did You Know?
- Forsaken introduced the Scorn, undead Fallen corrupted by Dark Ether that do not take cover and have the most aggressive AI in the game.
- The expansion added Gambit, a PvE/PvP hybrid mode where two teams of four compete by defeating enemies and depositing motes to send blockers and invade the opposing team's arena.
- Each character class received three new supers tied to a third subclass branch, unlocked via Seeds of Light obtained through campaign and endgame activities.
- The Dreaming City's Blind Well allows players to use charges of Light to summon enemies for public battles across three difficulty levels, with an optional fourth tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Destiny 2: Forsaken?
It is the third major expansion for Bungie's first-person shooter Destiny 2, released on September 4, 2018 as the centerpiece of the game's second year of live content.
What new gameplay features does Forsaken add?
The expansion introduces Gambit, a team-based mode that blends PvE encounters with PvP interference from rival Guardians, alongside the game's first dungeon (Scourge of the Spire) and the Combat Bow as a brand-new weapon class.
Who are the Scorn?
The Scorn are a bioengineered enemy faction that populate the Reef and serve as the primary antagonists in the Forsaken campaign, acting as twisted remnants of a failed Cabal experiment.
What drives the main story of Forsaken?
Guardians head to the Reef to track down and destroy the Scorn in order to avenge the killing of their close friend Cayde-6, culminating in a confrontation with the source behind his death.
Why do fans consider Forsaken a turning point for Destiny 2?
After the base game drew widespread criticism for thin content, Bungie used this expansion to fundamentally rework core systems like Guardian Ranks and loot distribution, which substantially improved both player satisfaction and critical reception.
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