Here are the seven things you should know about the newly announced Destiny: Rising mobile game by NetEase and Bungie.
Destiny: Rising, officially revealed on October 14, 2024, is a new free-to-play mobile game from NetEase and Bungie. Developed primarily by NetEase, this game takes place in an alternate timeline, giving players a fresh perspective on Destiny lore.
However, before its official announcement, early reports hinted that Bungie was, at one point, heavily involved in Destiny: Rising’s development. Let’s dive into the seven key things you should know about the game.
Primarily Developed by NetEase, Bungie Scaled Back Its Involvement
Destiny: Rising is primarily developed by Chinese tech giant NetEase, with Bungie playing a supporting role. However, this wasn’t always the case. Back in September 2024, The Game Post reported that Bungie was heavily involved early on, contributing so much to the development that they attempted to renegotiate the contract to become a co-developer.
When those negotiations fell through, Bungie significantly reduced its involvement, leaving NetEase to take full control. Bungie’s current role is more limited, mainly providing narrative guidance and visual references for characters, weapons, and other assets.
Set in an Alternate Timeline, Not Connected to Destiny 2’s Canon
One of the key aspects of Destiny: Rising is that it takes place in an alternate timeline, separate from the main storyline of Destiny 2. Here’s what the developer has to say about this:
“Destiny: Rising is set in an alternate timeline, many years before Destiny 1 & 2. This timeline allows for a different exploration of how humanity began to rise from the ashes of the Collapse when invaders from beyond the stars brought an end to what was once a golden age.”
Story Set in the Warlord-Era
Destiny: Rising takes players back to the Warlord Era—a turbulent period before the Guardians and their iconic classes (Titans, Warlocks, and Hunters) were fully established.
Though this era has been mentioned in Destiny’s lore, Destiny: Rising offers players a deeper, more immersive exploration, providing a fresh perspective for long-time fans.
“The fallen deity, the Traveler, used its light to create Ghosts who sought out fallen denizens of humanity and brought them back as Lightbearers, immortals empowered with unique abilities.”
Iconic Heroes Return, Plus New Faces
Unlike the traditional class system found in Destiny 2, Destiny: Rising introduces hero characters from the Destiny universe. NetEase has already confirmed some familiar characters such as Kabr, Ikora Rey, and Iron Lord Jolder. In addition to these fan favorites, Destiny: Rising brings a range of new Lightbearers to the game.
Players will take on the role of a customizable main character named “Wolf.” You can personalize Wolf’s gender and appearance, offering a tailored experience. Each Lightbearer in the game possesses unique abilities tied to a special feature called the “Relic,” which defines their powers and playstyle.
New Weapon Type and Rarity: Crossbows and Mythic Gear
Destiny: Rising brings exciting new gameplay features, including a brand-new weapon type: the Crossbow. Players can also look forward to chasing after the rarest gear yet with the introduction of a new Mythic rarity tier.
Unlike Destiny 2, Destiny: Rising streamlines its weapon system with just two slots: one for Primary weapons and the other for Power weapons.
PvP, PvE, and 6-Player Co-op Raids
Destiny: Rising brings a mix of classic and new gameplay experiences for both PvE and PvP players. PvE fans can look forward to familiar features like Campaign missions, Destination free-roam, and Haven Ops Strikes for quick challenges.
For those looking to test their skill, the six-player Gauntlet Ops, inspired by Destiny’s iconic raids, will offer a more challenger experience. NetEase has also teased exciting new modes, including Morgran’s Prey, Legacy, and Realms of the IX.
On the PvP front, the competitive mode Shifting Gates is set to debut in the upcoming Closed Alpha test, offering a fresh twist on Destiny’s multiplayer gameplay. According to the developers, the game is still in the early stages of development, with more updates to come.
Destiny: Rising Closed Alpha Test
NetEase is set to launch the first Closed Alpha test for Destiny: Rising on November 1, 2024. This exclusive test will be available only to players in the U.S. and Canada. Here’s a complete guide on how to sign up and get involved.
And, that’s it for this article. In other news, Bungie has recently released a brand-new dungeon in Destiny 2 called “Vesper’s Host“. If you want to learn more about what it has to offer, do check out our complete loot table guide here.
