Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is the next major expansion pack for Bungie’s flagship release, and it seems the developers are going all-in when it comes to Exotics, Raids, and everything else in-between that matters.
Far as the release date is concerned, however, we’ve got some bad news, as Bungie just announced that they’ll launch Shadowkeep a bit later than was initially planned.
Release Date
The new release date is now slated to be 1st of October, which isn’t all that big of a delay from mid-September, but it will give Bungie enough time to get everything primed and ready to launch properly.
We didn’t make this decision lightly. We know for some of you (us too), Destiny releases are events where you take time off of work or develop a sudden sickness that keeps you from school or work (we get it, a bunch of our team takes some time off to go on their own Destiny Jacket Quest). We’re sorry for screwing up your plans and we wanted to share this information as quickly as we could,” said Bungie.
Due to the delay, we can expect for there to be an additional Iron Banner tournament before Shadowkeep is out, so there’s that at least.
Shadowkeep Astronaut Armor
The odd, shaman-looking armour showcased on some of the recent Shadowkeep materials is precisely what we’d expect from a horror-themed expansion for Destiny 2. Featuring throwbacks to both the original human colonists of Moon (who were slaughtered by Crota’s Hive) and to the disturbing garb of a certain prominent former Guardian, these armour pieces are a far cry from the sleek and shiny designs of Year 1 armour. They are, however, perfectly appropriate for the type of content we’re getting in Shadowkeep.
We’re also getting a full set of new Moon-themed weapons, too. So far we’ve seen the following:
- Handcannon
- Auto Rifle
- Shotgun
- Machinegun
- Fusion Rifle
Note that the shotgun, handcannon, and the AR are visible in the astronaut armour picture, while the machinegun and the fusion rifle have been showcased in their separate renders.
Confirmed Exotic Weapons
Everyone loves a good Legendary weapon in Destiny. These are Guardians’ bread and butter, but it’s the Exotics that signify true progression in Destiny 2. From what we’ve seen so far, Shadowkeep will continue this tradition by introducing a number of all-new Exotic weapons, as well as a few classics from Destiny 1.
Here’s what’s been confirmed as of yet:
- Heavy Bow - featuring AOE knockback arrows, this bow will be a Power Weapon, making it a particularly interesting prospect
- Vex Trace Rifle - potentially a Raid reward, not much is known otherwise
- Scoped Handcannon - uses Special/Power ammo, and may light the user on fire if it's over-used
- Monte Carlo - classic bayonet-mounted auto rifle; a real beaut
- Insect Machinegun - normal-looking machinegun that, when opened, reveals that there's an insect-looking creature encased in amber fitted just behind the feed assembly
While not confirmed as of yet, we do have a sneaking suspicion that some other Exotics might make their way to the game as well:
- Khvostov 7G-0X - the Exotic version of the very first auto rifle that the Guardian picks up in Destiny 1, seems inevitable, considering New Light
- No Time to Explain - Exo Stranger's pulse rifle that 'uses components that shouldn't yet exist'
Garden of Salvation Raid
Shadowkeep’s Raid will be a return to the ominous Black Garden, and while we don’t know much about the nature of this particular piece of endgame content, we’ve got a sneaking suspicion it’s going to wrap up with some hard-hitting reveals that relate both to Quria, Blade Transform, and to Savathûn, the Hive Queen.
We’ll keep you up-to-date as more info on this curious new Raid is released. For now, all we know is that it’ll drop a few days after Shadowkeep is launched, on 5th of October, and that the special World First event will be held during the weekend. Great news for competitive players, then.
Pre-Order Bonus
Players who place a pre-order on Shadowkeep will receive the following exclusive Eris Morn-themed cosmetic items:
- Exotic Ghost Shell
- Exotic Emote
- Emblem
Should players opt for the Digital Deluxe version of Shadowkeep, they’ll also receive the full Annual Pass DLC pack, so they’ll be set for a full year of exciting post-launch content releases.
Gamescom 2019 Trailer
That’s all the interesting facts we’ve got on Shadowkeep so far, but stay tuned, as we’ll keep updating this article as we near the launch window.
