Destiny 2 The Final Shape release date, trailers, new subclass, enemy faction & more
The Final Shape is Destiny 2's final chapter for the current 'Light and Darkness Saga', bringing a decade of storytelling to its climax. Destiny 2 hasn't had the best year, so hopes are high that TFS can bring a satisfying conclusion.
With the recent launch of Into the Light, we have passed the last checkpoint before the game heads for the end. We've also learned a lot more about what we can expect, so here is everything we know is coming with The Final Shape.
SPOILER WARNING: This guide contains story spoilers for Destiny 2 up to this point, including Lightfall and the seasons since then.
The Final Shape release date
The new release date for The Final Shape is June 4, 2024. This delay was reported recently to have taken place and has now been confirmed by Bungie.
Click to enlargeFollowing the layoffs of many staff members at Bungie in late October 2023, a report from Bloomberg has suggested that the situation had also caused delays for upcoming Bungie releases.
This includes The Final Shape, hence the reason the game is now launching in June. The delays have allegedly also set the projected release of the new Marathon game back to 2025.
Destiny 2 The Final Shape trailers
The first trailer for The Final Shape was revealed during the PlayStation Showcase 2023. The trailer shows Ikora recounting the events of the last few years to a returning Cayde-6.
As Cayde points out they have no idea where they are, they are revealed to be in a lush world of greenery and rivers.
Looming overhead is the triangle-shaped portal that the Witness opened in the Traveller, seemingly implying that they have travelled to wherever that portal leads.
Then during the Destiny 2 Showcase 2023, we got the official reveal trailer for The Final Shape. This trailer revealed much about what is to come, such as the events that set up this final confrontation, and the campaign.
During the showcase, we learned that players will enter the Traveller and journey through the Traveller's Pale Heart, which is the location for The Final Shape. The location will begin as a linear campaign space, where players must journey to the Witness' stronghold and confront it.
Along the way, the player and their allies will be joined by Cayde-6, who has been brought back as a Virgil-like guide through this journey. The Pale Heart takes on the form of places that are important to those inside, meaning the location will be made up of locations from Destiny's history.
The Pale Heart of the Traveler Preview gives us a fly-through look at some of the sights within the new location. Throughout this short video, there are pieces of the past from all across Destiny referenced, though changed and made unusual.
Alongside the launch of Into the Light, we got The Final Shape Developer Gameplay Preview. From this preview, we got a look at the new subclass, Prismatic, which allows the player to blend elements of other subclasses together.
We also saw some new exotic class items which will roll with two random exotic perks. Finally, we were properly introduced to the new enemy faction assisting the Witness, known as the Dread.
The Journey into the Traveler Trailer gives us more of a look inside the Pale Heart, while Cayde-6 tells his story of waking up here and discovering the Witness' invasion.
Destiny 2 The Final Shape platforms
Despite Bungie now being owned by Sony, the franchise won't become exclusive to PS4 or PS5. That's perhaps not a big surprise given the large install base on Xbox and PC, too.
Players can expect The Final Shape to arrive on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Destiny 2 The Final Shape price
Click to enlargeThe Final Shape can be purchased for $50/£40, with a bundle of The Final Shape and the new annual pass (which includes the new Episodes) for $90/£80.
If you're looking to catch up on Destiny 2, Bungie offers a Legacy Collection pack that bundles together 2019's Shadowkeep, 2020's Beyond Light, and 2022's Witch Queen. Or for a complete change of pace, you can Check out our list of the best free-to-play games in 2023.
New subclass - Prismatic
Click to enlargeAs revealed in the Developer Gameplay Preview, the new subclass is called Prismatic. This new subclass allows you to pick and choose abilities from across your Light and Darkness subclasses, adding new extremes to the possibilities of build crafting.
While using Prismatic you will have two meters below your super bar, each filling up as you deal Light and Dark damage. Once both are full, you can enter a new state called Transcendence. When you cast Transcendence, your abilities are refunded, you gain a damage boost, and you acquire a new grenade.
This new grenade combines two elements into one. The Hunter grenade freezes enemies before erupting into a firestorm, the Warlock grenade combines Stasis and Void, and the Titan grenade suspends enemies with Strand, while dealing chain Arc damage.
Who are The Dread?
Click to enlargeThe Dread is the new enemy faction coming in The Final Shape. We have encountered them before, as the Tormentors come from this group. The Dread are the Witnesses' personal, elite forces, and they are on another level from the enemies we have faced before.
The enemy types in The Dread are as follows:
- Grim - bat-like creatures that fly around the battlefield, peppering Guardians with shots. Their screech ability will slow and suppress you.
- Husk - melee enemy with dual blades, will charge in and deal heavy damage. When killed, a Geist can emerge and seek you out.
- Weaver/Attendant - Psions that have been reshaped with Stasis and Strand abilities. Can freeze you, or pull you across the battlefield.
- Tormentor - Hulking brutes who attack with scythes, their appearance based on the Disciple, Nezarec. They can deal massive damage, and even grab Guardians to drain them of their power.
- Subjugator - Tall, menacing commanders of the Witness forces, similar in appearance to the Disciple, Rhulk.
Everything else we know so far
We've collated bits and pieces of information about The Final Shape since Lightfall dropped, and even before then.
There are new supers and aspects coming in The Final Shape, one for each of the Light subclasses.
Warlocks get a new Solar super called Song of Flame that is reminiscent of the classic radiance super, which powers up the Warlock's melee and grenades, while also buffing nearby allies.
Warlocks also get a new Solar aspect called Hellion, which grants a Solar Soul similar to the ones in the Void and Arc subclasses.
Titans get a new Void super called Twilight Arsenal that involves throwing three Void axes into the ground, which explode and do huge damage. Guardians can then pick those axes up and use them as melee weapons.
They also get the Unbreakable aspect which allows them to create an active, moving shield in front of them That soaks up damage, before sending it back out in a concussive wave.
Finally, Hunters are getting a new Arc super called Storm's Edge which involves throwing a dagger and blinking to it, doing huge damage in an area. This super has three charges, allowing Hunters to cover a lot of ground.
The Hunter aspect is Ascension, which allows the Hunter to use their class ability to fly straight upwards, doing damage and amplifying themselves and their teammates, even if their teammates are not using Arc subclasses.
The Final Shape will bring new weapon archetypes, such as rocket sidearms and support auto rifles, which will be able to heal allies as well as deal damage.
Big changes have been teased for the game's progression system.
"In The Final Shape, we’re making big changes to the progression system that will help to connect even more players and remove barriers keeping friends from taking on the same content together," the August State of the Game reads.
Click to enlargeThis new progression includes systems that make it easier for players to link up over shared interests, and also the new Fireteam Power Level system. This brings the power level of players in a fireteam up to just below that of the highest player, in order to make sure everyone can play together.
The seasonal system that Destiny 2 has employed for the last few years is changing with The Final Shape, being replaced by the new Episodes. The Episodes will continue the story beyond The Final Shape, with three Episodes over the following year.
The devs have also revealed updates are coming for the Gambit in the year of The Final Shape, but haven't revealed what those are just yet.
Keith David, known for his roles in video games like Mass Effect, Halo 2, and the original Modern Warfare 2, will debut as the new voice of Commander Zavala in Destiny 2: The Final Shape following the passing of Lance Reddick in March 2023.
That is everything we currently know about The Final Shape. For more useful info, check out our Destiny 2 homepage where we have guides for the weekly reset, lost sector rotation, Trials of Osiris, Xur, and our ranking of the best raids and dungeons.
