D2: Shadowkeep news

Houndish video snapshot: A frustrated Eris Morn

A new VIDOC has just gone live, in which Bungie talks about new exotics, locations, enemies and activity content we will be seeing over the next few months, such as new bounties and loot system for the moon.

Bungie talks about how they want the actions of the player to push the story forward, while the VIDOC displays some exciting footage. Most notable is the new Festering Core strike on Io, and according to Houndish's description, "... some hellscape versions of areas ..." on the moon that are "pretty cool." Whether these hot spots are part of a campaign or Nightmare Hunts isn't yet clear.

The VIDOC includes a cut scene in which a frustrated Eris Morn actually swears! (Whoa, girl ... take a pill.) There's a scene that shows nightmares turning into enemies, which is fairly disturbing ... but essential to understanding the story, and why Guardians have returned to the moon.

Discussion also dwells on Armor 2.0, with a brief focus on "finisher" mods, which is something new for next-gen armor. For example, you can apply a class item armor mod called "Healthy Finisher" that will heal you, at a cost of 10% of your super energy. As well there's a video clip of a weapon sporting a "faction icon" that glows red when you're close to a nightmare enemy. We also get a "juicy" look at the Death Bringer exotic rocket launcher, which fires enemy-seeking projectiles that detonate in similar fashion to a nova bomb.

A new kind of vendor called the Lectern of Enchantment will be responsible for dispensing Nightmare Bounties, and of course, material exchanges. This vendor is described as a mechanism of the occult (vice the usual bipedal NPC) that was constructed by Eris Morn.

In Shadowkeep, the Nightfall is called The Ordeal. Depending on your character level (and perhaps confidence level in terms of reward desires), you may select specific difficulties ranging from Adept (750 power), Hero (920), Legend (950), and Master (980). On the other hand, the dungeon experience will be very raid-like (featuring the usual puzzles and drama), but with a max fireteam of three. As an aside, we understand that D2's season 9 will be called the Season of Dawn (and may be Rasputin-themed).

For Shadowkeep's Season of the Undying (season 8) calendar line-up, here's what the VIDOC revealed:

OCT 1 — Destiny 2 base game is free-to-play on PS4, XB1, Stadia, and PC (via Steam). Shadowkeep launches and moon destination opens. Includes a Seasonal Artifact (the Gate Lord's Eye), Finishers, Armor 2.0, and two new strikes: The Festering Core and The Scarlet Keep. Crucible updates include a new PvP map: Fragment, plus two reprise PvP maps: Widow's Court and Twilight Gap, and Crucible Labs: Elimination, plus other seasonal rank rewards.

OCT 5 — The new raid launches, and the Vex offensive begins.

OCT 8 — Hero- and Legend-level Nightmare Hunts begin.

OCT 15 — Master-level Nightmare Hunts begin. The first Iron Banner of the season begins.

OCT 22 — An exotic quest: Leviathan's Breath begins.

OCT 29 — The dungeon launches, a new PvP mode: Momentum Control is offered, and the exotic quest: Xenophage begins.

OCT 29 to NOV 19 — Festival of the Lost (free to all players).

NOV 5 — The first raid challenge begins.

NOV 19 — The Vex offensive: Final Assault begins.

Watch Houndish's video on YouTube [11m 8s]
Watch Bungie's VIDOC on YouTube [10m 34s]