The Destiny 2 showcase on August 24 was a buffet for fans. While the looter-shooter has been out for a few years, its constantly evolving storytelling has provided a great mechanism for a unique narrative. The next season and major expansion in Destiny 2 both promise to build on this with some major stakes at play.
The Witch Queen has its release date set for February 22, 2022. This gives players just under six months to experience everything that has been building up to the highly anticipated expansion. With so much of the game’s current narrative dedicated to the Hive Goddess Savathun and her expertly crafted lies, players are bound to find themselves at the center of a complicated tale. But the story for Witch Queen isn’t the only thing Destiny 2 players have to look forward to in the future.
RELATED: Destiny 2 Has Bad News for Xbox Game Pass Subscribers
Crota's End
On top of several new dungeons being introduced to the game over the next year, the showcase also announced the remaster of another raid from the first Destiny. The Vault of Glass raid was added at the beginning of Season of the Splicer and has seen countless Guardians annihilate Atheon. With Time’s Conflux and the Vault being the first major obstacle that many Destiny players faced in the first game, it makes sense that the reintroduction of its other raids will happen in chronological order.
This method would make Crota’s End the next Destiny raid players see in Destiny 2, and there are some hints that that could be the case. Gjallarhorn was at its peak in this raid, and the classic exotic weapon’s reintroduction to the series would line up nicely with its reprisal. For those Guardians that weren’t lucky enough to get the exotic rocket launcher, its younger sibling Hunger of Crota was still a great endgame reward.
As much sense as this might make, it could be the wrong Hive-based raid for players to anticipate appearing. While Crota was a major enemy for Destiny, his importance in Destiny 2 has dwindled and is overshadowed by other powerful Hive leaders. The extent of his legacy has since been reduced with the arrival of the Black Fleet, the construction of the Red Keep, and the greater shift in the Hive’s hierarchy during the story of Destiny 2. Crota’s father, Oryx, is still an incredibly important part of Destiny 2’s lore, and is directly connected to Xivu Arath and Savathun, the Witch Queen.
RELATED: Destiny 2 Vault of Glass Raid Boss Beat in Two Melee Hits
King's Fall
Oryx was one of the three Hive Gods that left fundament and ruled ruthlessly during his time. While Xivu Arath considers herself the strongest and Savathun believes herself to be the most cunning, for some time Oryx the Taken King did his best to keep them beneath him, and he succeeded in this task. He once killed both of his sisters in the Ascendant Realm as a means to obtain their power, and deceive his own Worm, which laid the foundation for the Hive to become the threat that they are.
These nefarious actions granted him the power to Take, and thus his personal army, the Taken, originated. With the Taken King being the expansion that these unique enemies first appeared in, as well as their first master before the two Hive Queens, it makes sense that its raid is the next one that players might see remastered for Destiny 2. The King’s Fall raid also serves as a major turning point for the Hive.
They go from the despicable boogeyman in Destiny’s Dark Below to a malicious and lethal threat to Sol in the Taken King. The pinnacle of this expansion is its King’s Fall raid, which had a major effect on the series future. With Oryx’s death and physical change from the Taken King to the Touch of Malice exotic scout rifle, the Hive change. A power vacuum ensues but is later filled by the strength of Xivu Arath and the cunning of Savathun. Each of these Hive goddesses takes up Oryx's legacy in their own way; using selfish focus and personal goals to lead their fallen brother’s forces.
RELATED: Destiny 2 Already Nerfing New Exotic in PvP
Destiny's Queens
Oryx's significance to the Hive and his sisters isn’t the only reason that fans should possibly be prepared to face the Taken King in the next remastered raid. At the beginning of the Taken King expansion, Mara Sov and the forces of the Reef engaged Oryx upon his arrival. While most of the fleet was wiped out, the Dreadnaught’s weapon didn’t kill Mara Sov, the Awoken Queen.
She recently returned to Destiny 2 and is deeply entangled with Savathun, who has just revealed herself after impersonating the Warlock Osiris. Season of the Lost and the greater narrative focusing on Destiny’s two Queens is still unfolding before players, but it is another reason that fans should expect King’s Fall to return. With two major characters tied to the expansion and story around the raid in some way, it seems the most likely candidate to be reprised in the near future.
The King’s Fall raid would also provide a solid touchstone for each of these characters, as well as a precursor for Savathun’s newest creations: Hive Guardians. While they are likely to be entirely different from the Taken, seeing Hive that are slaves to the darkness with their wills bent by Oryx in contrast to those living a new truth as Light-imbued Guardians would make for an excellent juxtaposition. It would also fall in line with the contrasting yet comparable techniques that Mara Sov and Savathun have.
Easter Eggs from The Witch Queen Showcase
While bringing the King’s Fall raid back could be a great way to show newer players where the Taken enemies originated from, there is some other evidence to suggest that it is the next major Destiny activity being remastered. While Bungie has snuck in tons of Easter eggs for players to find in many of its titles, the Witch Queen reveal event had one of its own. In the segment where the new dungeons, Gjallarhorn, and the remastered raid were discussed,Destiny 2's General Manager Justin Truman was wearing a shirt featuring the Taken King’s logo.
This piece of art was major in the expansion’s advertising, and often stood out in solid red. It depicted Oryx’s three eyes, mouth, and horns in a menacing manner. While what shirt someone could be wearing at an event might not seem like much, and often fans shouldn’t feel a need to consider it, the particular piece of gear feels possibly intentional.
With the Witch Queen expansion being the major focus of the showcase, something depicting Savathun’s sigil could have been more appropriate. But if King’s Fall is the next raid that is being remastered for Destiny 2, then it makes sense that someone wanted to sneak a hint to fans while discussing future content. This tactic would also still match up with the topic of Savathun; someone forming a narrative to lead players in a particular direction.
Destiny 2 is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Destiny 2: Savathun Might Have Already Taken Other Guardians
