Destiny 2 Into the Light: The Recluse, Hammerhead returning

by | Mar 15, 2024

While our unofficial Destiny 2 Roadmap covers all the major changes (that we know about) coming to Destiny 2 up until the Final Shape in 2024, this post focuses on absolutely everything we know about Destiny 2’s upcoming Into the Light release.

Destiny 2 Into the Light release date: April 9, 2024

The next chapter in Destiny 2 is not a new Season but a free-to-play content update called “Into the Light.”

Bungie finally revealed the official release date for the highly anticipated two-month content update. Into the Light is launching on April 9, 2024, available to all players for free.

Bungie’s marketing strategy varies from season to season. Sometimes, Bungie will keep everything about the new season strictly confidential until the very last minute, whereas in other cases, they start hyping the new season weeks in advance. This time around, Bungie is doing everything it can to hype up Into the Light’s release:

Leading up to the launch, a series of three livestreams featuring the development team will showcase new content, features, and rewards with hands-on gameplay.

These streams are scheduled for March 19, March 26, and April 2.

Into the Light livestream Destiny 2

Plus, each live stream promises to be packed with information:

Each will focus on different part of the content update and be presented by our developers, who will be sharing tons of information and providing a hands-on preview. 

In the meantime, the Destiny 2 leaks scene has been hard at work, and several substantiated rumors have surfaced.

If you do not wish to be spoiled, STOP READING NOW. You have been warned.

Everything we know about Destiny 2’s Into the Light

Into the Light is clearly not a full-blown Destiny 2 Season. The Final Shape delay was not planned, and Bungie has been scrambling to get The Final Shape ready for prime time since November 2023. Losing roughly 10% of their employees is another monumental challenge for Bungie.

According to insider information revealed in late 2023, Bungie didn’t have the time to develop a proper release akin to the 30th Anniversay Pack. Therefore, expect Into the Light to be much smaller. Based on the most serious rumours and leaks, this is what you can expect from Into the Light:

The Recluse SMG Destiny 2

The return of The Recluse, Destiny 2

The return of the infamous The Recluse

The return of The Recluse SMG is all but confirmed. Returning weapon ornaments for The Recluse have been spotted in the Destiny 2 API. The only reason Bungie might bring them back is clear: The Recluse is coming back. Plus, most of the infamous Pinnacle weapons that were sunsetted in 2021 have returned. 

It was only a matter of time before Bungie brought back The Recluse.

Black Armory Weapons

The latest API update also revealed the return of an ornament for the Hammerhead. Why would Bungie bring back an ornament for a sunset weapon? This can only mean that the Hammerhead is coming back, too.

As part of the Black Armory release, it is unlikely that Bungie would only bring back the Hammerhead. As they’ve done with all returning weapons (such as the IKELOS or Opulent weapons), they always bring back most of it, not all, relevant weapons. In fact, Into the Light’s Promo image appears to feature the Blast Furnace pulse rifle (as well as Leviathan’s Midnight Coup).

Into the Light promo featured Destiny 2

Planetary weapons

Last but not least, it is rumored that Planetary weapons will also return. These are technically currently in the game, but they still feature those awful Year 1 fixed rolls. Into the Light aims to reissue them with random perks and, hopefully, Origin traits.

New missions

Advertised as part of the upcoming livestreams, Into the Light will also feature “new content” and features. Some leaks claim that new missions will take players to old planets. It is unclear how trustworthy those leaks are but that’s all the information we have today. 

Destiny 2 Season roadmaps: Should we continue?

In an effort to keep the community informed and hype the new season, Bungie used to release great-looking season roadmaps. They, unfortunately, stopped a few seasons ago, leaving a hole that we are trying to fill. We created a few roadmaps and the reception was mixed. If you’d like to take a stab at a Season 23 roadmap, let me know! This is roughly what you could expect (example from Season 19):

Destiny 2 Season 19 Season of the Seraph roadmap

Season of the Seraph (S19) Roadmap, Destiny 2

Are we missing something big already confirmed for Season 23? Let us know in the comments!

About The Author

Ric Molina
Ric Molina
I've been covering gaming since 2012, and some of my work has been featured by large brands, including MSN.com, Forbes, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more. I've been obsessed with Destiny 2 (and now Diablo 4) for years now, and I hope to provide new and returning players with the guides and resources I wish I had when I first started.
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2 Comments
  1. Charles

    might want to fix the typo in the “New Season release date” paragraph because it says season of the witch instead of wish

    Reply
    • Ric Molina

      100%, thank you for the heads up. It is now corrected.

      Reply
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