Heresy Set to Launch February 4th – PlayStation.Blog Announcement

The Dreadnaught is making a comeback. This legendary Hive ship, once the ominous Throne World of Oryx, is returning as a new threat to humankind. Destiny 2: Heresy, set to launch on February 4, will let Guardians embark on new adventures as part of the game’s third episode and the closing chapter of the Light and Darkness Saga. Today, the Destiny team provided fans with an engaging livestream that delved deep into what Heresy has in store. This included exclusive developer interviews and some exciting live gameplay from the upcoming episode.

Let’s dive into some of the standout features revealed during this livestream. If you’re craving even more details, a full recap of the livestream awaits.

The Dreadnaught’s Ominous Return

Hovering in space among Saturn’s majestic rings, the Dreadnaught has always lingered in the background of Destiny lore. Initially serving as a symbol of past battles with Oryx during The Taken King expansion, it later became a battlefield for Xivu Arath’s forces. Now, with Heresy, the iconic Hive ship will once again take center stage.

Destiny 2 Narrative Architect, Nikko Stevens, shed some light on the ship’s reintroduction: “The Dreadnaught’s return in Heresy promises new experiences. It’s waking up for the first time in nearly a decade, prompting reactions from the Vanguard and Guardians throughout the system. We’re set to discover its fate after Oryx’s downfall and what became of its decaying halls once left without a Navigator.”

Venturing Into The Nether

In Heresy, players get the chance to explore the Dreadnaught in a fresh activity known as The Nether. This fierce experience intertwines exploration and combat, featuring gameplay modifiers, rising challenges, and some tempting rewards. The Nether aims to keep players alert and engaged every time they board.

Stevens added, “There’s a relentless surge of Taken forces spilling from the Dreadnaught in Heresy. This corrosive force is akin to a challenging current pushing against Guardians’ efforts to infiltrate the ship. This is what The Nether addresses.”

The activity spans different areas, each filled with fierce adversaries leading to epic boss confrontations, all set within the eerie, transformed corridors of the Dreadnaught. Players will strive to halt the spreading Taken corruption by dismantling the ship’s weapon systems. Drawing inspiration from Destiny 2’s rogue-lite segments like The Coil from Season of the Wish and Deep Dives from Season of the Deep, rolling out a dynamic experience remains a priority. After clearing an area, enemy Power levels increase, and the activity brings in fresh combat elements in the form of boons to enhance gameplay.

Guardians can collect three types of boons: minor, major, and corrupted. Minor boons enhance stats and are stackable. Major boons arrive after clearing sections, offering impactful gameplay perks like amassing Static Charge stacks that let you unleash powerful thunderbolts with your weapon. However, corrupted boons, while offering substantial gameplay bonuses, include trade-offs—such as amplifying both the damage dealt and received.

Destiny 2 Senior Designer Ryan Harris commented on the mechanics: “We’re testing player modifiers—adding challenges like increased health, no health regen, limited ammo, and revive tokens, along with altering healing dynamics during gameplay. Emphasizing build crafting is essential in the Nether activity. Guardians should prepare loadouts focused on survivability as mode modifiers significantly extend health pools and halt all health regeneration.”

Beyond the storyline twists and gear updates, the livestream also announced an exciting collaboration between Bungie and Lucasfilm Games. This will introduce Star Wars-themed gear and accessories to Destiny 2. As Heresy launches, players can snag three new armor ornaments—one for each Guardian class—channeling the Galactic Empire’s iconic soldiers, plus a slew of Star Wars-inspired goodies.

This episode of Heresy doesn’t end here. Expect three Acts with thrilling activities, outstanding gear collections, and loads more. Heresy is merely the beginning of what’s going to be an action-packed 2025 for Destiny 2, so keep your eyes peeled for what’s next!

Destiny 2: Heresy hits on February 4.