This also means that, regardless of when players decide to hop into the extraction shooter, they won’t have to worry about missing out on important story moments. Rather, questlines will remain in the game through future updates, and players will be able to get their hands on achievements and fill out their item collections without worrying about missing out on anything.

“We want Marathon to be an additive experience in the sense that all priority contracts and story content aims to be evergreen, meaning that it doesn’t matter when you join, you’ll still be able to play through the established questlines and fill out your Codex with achievements and collections that allow you to uncover additional layers of the world,” she explained. “We’ll be adding to this foundation over time in the live service environment, depending on our players’ response and at a cadence we can support, but we know what direction we want to go in and what we want to create for the community to uncover next.”

When discussing how this narrative actually unfolds through Marathon‘s the extraction shooter gameplay loop, Nardin explained that it will all revolve around scavenging an abandoned colony. While there will be plenty of the story told through the various quests players can take on, Marathon will also reveal more of its worldbuilding through item descriptions, text files and audio logs.

“The core loop is about scavenging an abandoned colony, so we set out to tell the best possible story about that colony and the people who lived there,” said Nardin. “A lot of that is done through the loot itself – there are text files and audio logs that you can collect that will help you piece together what happened on Tau Ceti IV.”

“Many of the contracts you take from the factions who have a vested interest in the Marathon expedition also guide you and your crew along that journey, encouraging you to explore different corners of the world on your way to profit and mutual understanding. Durandal is back, of course, and we also have a lot of new characters – human, AI, and everything in between!”

Bungie had first decided to vault content for Destiny 2 with its 2020 expansion Beyond Light. While the expansion brought in a host of new content, with its story taking place on Jupiter’s moon Europa, it also removed essentially all of the campaigns released with the base game, and the Curse of Osiris, Warmind, and Forsaken expansions. Several locations, including Titan, Mars, and the Tangled Shore had also been removed from the game, along with a variety of raids and strikes.

Marathon is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

In a series of posts on BlueSky, the official Destiny 2 account revealed that not only will the update be “changed and expanded to include sizable quality-of-life updates”, but it’s also getting a new name.

“We will provide exact details closer to release, covering previously announced Weapon Tier Upgrading, but also additions like expanding Tiered Gear to all Raid and Dungeon activities, Pantheon 2.0, Tier 5 stats for Exotic Armors, and more.”

Until then, players can expect more bug fixes, the return of Guardian Games next month, a “more frequent” cadence to Iron Banner (which goes live in April), and “continued” Portal modifiers. Information on the game’s future and the update itself will be provided closer to the latter’s release.

Suffice it to say that it’s been a rough time for Destiny 2 since The Final Shape dropped. Aside from the Light and Darkness Saga’s finale allegedly underperforming, Bungie failed to really draw fans back in with The Edge of Fate. Renegades, a Star Wars-themed expansion, was better received, but player numbers, at least on Steam, continue to hit record lows.

It’s a sad state of affairs, especially following extensive layouts and development troubles, but who knows? Maybe Marathon will help the company get back on track when it launches on March 5th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. We’ll find out in the coming weeks and on February 26th to March 2nd, you can try the first Server Slam.

And no, that’s not hyperbole. Bungie’s looter shooter would start installing, whether you wanted it to or not. Thankfully, the bug has since been resolved, alongside another that prevented Collector’s Edition owners from activating the game on Steam. One can only hope that this is the end of any Steam-related issues, but it’s early days yet.

Marathon launches on March 5th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC with three maps, though a fourth, the end-game Cryo Archive, will become available in Season 1 (which doesn’t have a release date). You can also control seven different Runners, each with their own unique kits and playstyles. These can be customized further with Runner-exclusive Cores and Implants that grant random stats and Perks for all Shells.

Bungie has yet to confirm if there will be an open beta before launch, so stay tuned for more updates. At the very least, the PC requirements aren’t overwhelming, and Marathon will offer solo queue and proximity chat on release.

“I’m incredibly proud of the visual world we built for Marathon,” wrote Cross. “Getting support at this scale for something a bit different is rare, and the art team at Bungie is the best in the biz. I’ll be enjoying playing the game as a fan with all of you. Massive thank you to everyone who has supported through all of it.”

Discussing his departure with Kotaku, Cross said that it was his own decision to leave Bungie. He went on to note that “I’m super proud of the project and what the team accomplished over the last six years,” regarding his work on the concept art for Marathon as well as many other things for Destiny 2.

When he was asked by a player what has been his favourite concept art created for Destiny during his time at Bungie, Cross posted an image showcasing a lineup of capes for Hunters, all of which made use of a wide range of colour palettes as well as different iconography that paid homage to the background lore and current storyline of Destiny 2.

Cross’s departure comes just days after Bungie officially announced that Marathon will be releasing in March 2026, and that it will sell for $39.99. Along with this, the studio had also showcased some gameplay from the upcoming title, as well as details of what to expect from its launch.

When it comes out, Marathon will include four maps: Perimeter, Dire Marsh, Outpost, and the UESC Marathon’s Cryo Archive. The last one of these will serve as the end-game challenge, and will become available when the game kicks off its first season shortly after launch. Along with this, a new Runner was also unveiled—the scavenging-focused Rook.

Earlier this month, artist Antireal had also announced that the issues surrounding Bungie having stolen their assets to develop Marathon had been resolved. These assets were revealed as having been plagiarised back in May, when Antireal said, “the Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017.”

“Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language I have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution,” continued the artist.

“I don’t have the resources nor the energy to spare to pursue this legally but I have lost count of the number of times a major company has deemed it easier to pay a designer to imitate or steal my work than to write me an email.”

This month, however, Antireal had said that the issue had been resolved between the artist and Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment “to my satisfaction.” The artist did not reveal whether this means that compensation was paid or whether the assets in question will be removed from the upcoming game.

Which is funny because, for all intents and purposes, Renegades is decent. For all its Star Wars trappings – and the way they’re adapted is nothing less than odd – it’s a pretty straightforward experience if you’re a Destiny player. There’s nothing here that will really shock or surprise, and few gameplay mechanics that feel fresh. Even those missions that see you venturing through the Lawless Frontier, calling down vehicles and airstrikes a la Helldivers 2 before extracting, are nowhere near as exciting, compelling or involving.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth playing. New content is new content, after all. Even if it’s considered little more than an Episode or a paid Season, Renegades has some enjoyable moments, some interesting loot, and some notable character moments. They just don’t equate to a meaningful whole that really stands out.

"As overt and blatant as these references feel, there is no direct tie-in to the Star Wars canon. Rather, it’s the moments and setpieces, the prospect of this secret empire suddenly rising, and an enigmatic villain with temper issues, that’s leveraged to continue the Fate Saga."

If you haven’t followed The Edge of Fate, the Vanguard and its allies receive an ultimatum to bind the Nine or face extinction. Meanwhile, Drifter sees a vision of the Barant Imperium – Temu Galactic Empire, in this case, though they’re more akin to the First Order – and heads off to try and presumably deal with the problem himself. This also involves taking Eris Morn, Eido, the player, and a newcomer, Aunor of the Praxic Order, along for the ride.

Sans any text crawl, we cut to the Imperium chasing after the Derelict in a clear homage to A New Hope, right down to the hallway scene. Where is the player, the literal Eater of Worlds, in terms of power in this franchise? Apparently missing, but soon, they board the Imperium’s ship to rescue Drifter – encased in a carbonite-like Stasis block – and recover an encrypted data disc. Who wants to guess what’s on it? If you answered, “information on a space station with a massive laser,” you get a prize.

As overt and blatant as these references feel, there is no direct tie-in to the Star Wars canon. Rather, it’s the moments and setpieces, the prospect of this secret empire suddenly rising, and an enigmatic villain with temper issues, that’s leveraged to continue the Fate Saga. So if you’re wondering whether you can jump in and expect everything to make sense, I have bad news. Heck, I still have a lot of questions over why Six, a member of the Inner Nine, even helped the new big bad, Bael, in the first place.

There are other elements in play, from the lightsaber – er Praxic Blade (it’s a lightsaber, let’s be real), the blasters and the hive of scum and villainy that is Tharsis Outpost, to the camera wipes, establishing shots, iconic sound effects and even the “Star Wars-ification” of old locations. Mars has a sarlacc pit now, and Spider has a Jabba the Hutt-like barge. Europa is a poor man’s Hoth. Since when and why? Your guess is as good as mine. At least the music is excellent, flitting back and forth between familiar Destiny and Star Wars instrumentals to create this uniquely fitting symphony.

As so many have pointed out already, however, we’ve been here narrative-wise. The Vanguard hanging back to ensure the safety of The Last City (except the reasoning here is far dumber); the crew tapping into the less savory elements, namely three criminal syndicates, for assistance; the giant laser-firing space station – even the trash compactor sequence has already been done in a previous Exotic mission. Of course, so much is similar because Destiny was inspired by Star Wars, right down to the Light and Darkness.

It isn’t the biggest killjoy, but seeing the inspiree circling back to the inspiration and treating it as fresh, especially after removing the beloved campaign with so many similar elements (Forsaken), is just bizarre. Forsaken is also far better, but I digress.

"However, along with the starting mission, there are only a handful of proper campaign missions – the Legendary difficulty also feels like a joke, and that’s while playing solo. They can be enjoyable in some parts but also tend to drag and disappoint in others."

Unlike The Edge of Fate, you’re mercifully not Mattersparking around, or forced to solve puzzles with Matterweave and the Relocator. Renegades’ campaign fashions itself very much as an action-packed ride with an intriguing twist on enemy shields, where sustained damage is required to break them (though they seem more susceptible to the new blasters). However, along with the starting mission, there are only a handful of proper campaign missions – the Legendary difficulty also feels like a joke, and that’s while playing solo.

They can be enjoyable in some parts but also tend to drag and disappoint in others. Much as I like the finale, the actual final boss is a complete non-entity with the most basic mechanics. While it’s fun to traipse around in an AT-ST-like Walker, blowing everything up for as long as it can survive, fighting against some Strand-hardened variants on a modified Pike is tedious. Fire and Ice, the Exotic mission that grants the Praxic Blade, is a big stand-out – it can be frustrating at first, but once figured out, the mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat is well-paced.

In between all these missions, you’ll be heading to the Lawless Frontier, and this is where Renegades truly begins to feel like the usual tired Destiny. Charging mining drills with charges gathered from slain enemies, dunking orbs, escorting the payload, just plain slaying waves of enemies, standing in spots to fill a defense progress bar – nothing you haven’t seen before, though the cargo carrying objective is terrible. It just works, I suppose, and the new Renegade Abilities, those airstrikes and deployable vehicles, are a nice addition, even if they’re more impactful in the post-campaign Territory War.

Lawless Frontier tends to break up the pacing of the more important story beats with busy work, but not as much as menial tasks like heading to Zavala’s office to speak to him, and then returning to Tharsis to answer a call on my Ghost. It’s one string of “this could have been an email” after another with some of these characters, and the fact that this has been an issue since seasons were a thing is mind-boggling.

As for the loot, the new blaster archetypes are surprisingly well-executed with some fun perks – like increased damage and exploding enemies at high heat levels. These put a nice spin on the otherwise risk/reward element of the archetype, where venting heat periodically is advised instead of overheating. I’m not the biggest fan of the new heavy sniper rifle, but it’s a neat addition all the same.

"Rack up enough contracts, rank up with a syndicate, and you’ll unlock unique rewards, from more Renegade Abilities to specific weapon archetypes and shaders. Again, nothing that hasn’t been seen in Destiny 2 before, but the syndicates and their rewards are varied enough to make it work."

And yes, the Praxic Blade is fun to use, offering some strong combos and good reflect damage alongside extensive customization from the blade color to the frame and stats. The throwing mechanic could be better – as satisfying as it can feel to take down a group of foes, it sometimes whiffs entirely, especially on the way back. I didn’t spend much time with Service of Luzaku, the new Strand machine gun, but Deimosuffusion, the Warlock Exotic, felt like a fun time, with its rift-induced suspensions and Threadlings going wild, even with unoptimized stats.

Once you’ve beaten the story, the post-campaign consists of allying with a specific syndicate and completing Contracts. They’re seamless enough, though my hopes of sandboxes where my team could endlessly chain objectives together on a single map before extracting were swiftly dashed. Instead, like the story versions, you’re completing a handful of tasks and then extracting when told to do so. The fact that there isn’t much to discover in these missions outside of the occasional optional objective and chest with Enhancement Cores is a bummer.

But they’re more challenging at this point, pairing well with the already excellent enemy density and Invasions, where a lone player enters your instance to try and rack up some kills. Some occasional bugs may occur from cargo defense pads not materializing immediately, or an asset becoming invulnerable, effectively blocking you from destroying it and completing the objective. I was also sent back quite a ways during some deaths for reasons I can’t quite fathom.

Anyway, rack up enough contracts, rank up with a syndicate, and you’ll unlock unique rewards, from more Renegade Abilities to specific weapon archetypes and shaders. Again, nothing that hasn’t been seen in Destiny 2 before, but the syndicates and their rewards are varied enough to make it work.

"While never meant to be this giant momentum shift for the franchise that would finally steer it in the right direction, I find myself, as always, yearning for more."

With a new dungeon out this week, there will be other content for fans to burn through, and Bungie’s various changes to leveling – including the removal of Unstable Cores – make for a smoother grind (and the new Vault filters are a long, long time coming). Even the Orders, automatically restocked and serving as an alternative to Pathfinder and Bounties, offer a consistent flow of XP and Bright Dust.

However, I’m still on the fence about all this. For $40, the content that Renegades lacks – no Strikes or Crucible maps, only one Exotic gear piece per class, no new region (unless you count Tharsis Outpost, which you shouldn’t) – cuts a little too deep. I probably wouldn’t mind it so much if there were tons of fresh ideas – instead, a good portion feels very “Been there, done that,” except those times had better characters and mission design.

If The Edge of Fate dissuaded you from ever engaging with Destiny 2 again, then Renegades is at least worth a try. It may pleasantly surprise the most jaded fans, offer some enjoyable loot for the most hardcore, and maybe remind you of the good times in the Star Wars universe. While never meant to be this giant momentum shift for the franchise that would finally steer it in the right direction, I find myself, as always, yearning for more.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Many of these games are so addictive and well-designed, you’re probably going to be thinking about them when you’re not playing them. Let’s get started!

1. Where Winds Meet

This wuxia-based RPG is simply unmatched when it comes to the number of activities it offers you, the quality of each one, and the variety you can find. It’s an open world where exploration without having a specific destination in mind is the best possible way to experience it, with a lot of great side content baked into the game aside from a compelling main campaign.

With online multiplayer and MMO elements integrated into the gameplay loop, and combat and gear systems that are great for creating unique PvP characters, there’s just so much to do in this game, and so much more to come with subsequent updates, that hitting triple figures on your playtime is almost an inevitability.

2. EA Sports FC 26

The football simulator that’s been around forever continues to be a viable option for a game that has you coming back to it every chance you get, for a very long time after you first boot it up. With a very detailed Career mode, regular online events, the option to pit your team against your friend, or perhaps have a buddy join your team instead, there’s a lot to experience.

The gameplay on offer is also quite solid, with a lot of realism baked into the experience to make you feel like you’re on the pitch and not staring at it through a screen. However, its systems and some of its challenges are going to require that you literally put your best foot forward on the pitch. If you decide to dive into this one, the game is on and is going to stay that way for a while.

3. Fortnite

Once again, there’s so much to do in Fortnite, which is more of a platform than a game at this point. With so many modes on offer, regular content being added into the game, social features that make it a blast when it’s enjoyed in company, and a PvP Battle Royale mode that has become quite popular in its own right, this one’s definitely a game where 200 hours might go by before you even notice.

Dive in and you’re going to find a lot of freedom for self-expression, and a lot of fun to be had on the islands. Just be careful not to put too much of a strain on your wallet, as those outfits and goodies can be very tempting indeed.

4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim + Expansions

Step into the shoes of the Dragonborn and begin your journey into Skyrim, and you’re probably not going to look at another video game until you’ve explored every corner of its sprawling map. Anything can happen along the road to your next point of interest, and with some of the finest RPG mechanics to grace the genre, you’re going to spend a lot of time tinkering with your build.

This is an RPG that has more than earned its popularity and ranks high among modern gaming’s finest for a reason. It’s also smart to dive in now and perhaps brush up on the story ahead of the sequel that’s eventually coming our way. The expansions are worth a mention, and can add a significant amount of hours to your total playtime. Every second of them is going to be worth it, though.

5. GTA Online

A thriving community of players, a massive map to explore in San Andreas, and interesting activities to engage with. GTA Online was kind of a no-brainer for this list. With heists to plan and execute, quests to carry out for some of the main story’s characters, and a reputation to build for your silent protagonist, this one’s going to have you avoiding plans and spending your weekends indoors for a while.

It’s GTA at its finest, and if the delay to GTA VI has had you feeling down, perhaps this one can act as a suitable placebo until the real thing gets here.

6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt + Story Expansions

Geralt’s search for Ciri, and all the shenanigans he can get up to in the process, continues to be among the best open-world games we’ve played despite it being a decade old at this point. CDPR’s ability to hide a frankly overwhelming amount of secrets across three vast maps, and a whole lot of quality side content to distract the Witcher from looking for his adoptive daughter, is nothing short of a marvel.

The story expansions are a whole other ball game, bringing some very satisfying arcs full of possibilities to change the narrative’s direction, along with excellent new monsters to hunt and more secrets and lore to uncover. You might not be able to get enough of this one, if we’re being honest.

7. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

The first open-world Metal Gear Solid is a great option for those of you who like a game that takes a while to outstay its welcome. Big Boss’s adventures continue in a main campaign that works very well as a bridge between previous entries, while side ops, Metal Gear Online, and the Forward Operating Base systems are all reasons for this one to have you enjoying many entertaining hours of espionage and skullduggery.

Indeed, a significant part of your playtime is going to be planning the best possible route to your objectives without your enemies being none the wiser to your presence. This is a hunt that takes a satisfyingly long time and is definitely worth considering.

8. Destiny 2

This award-winning online FPS title from Bungie has a staggering amount of content for you to take on in its story-based PvE mode, while your multiplayer options range from cooperative three-player missions to PvP battles. There’s a lot to take in, both in terms of the game’s lore and the amount of gear and potential build options you can find.

With a lot of content to get through, and a lot of fun to be had as you dive into all it has to offer, Destiny 2 is a dream come true if you’re an FPS player who wants a game that can take over their holidays.

9. Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

FromSoftware’s ambitious open-world and the Tarnished’s incredible journey is nothing short of a masterpiece. The Lands Between are full of places to explore, mysteries to uncover, NPCs with haunting stories, and a lot of weapons, armor, gear, and loot to plunder as you try to become Queen Marika’s consort and impose your will on the world.

It’s easy to forget about all that as you ride your horse through the Lands Between, and that feeling only intensifies when you finally make your way to the Land of Shadow in the game’s DLC. Tracing the steps of Miquella is an adventure worth taking on, and coupled with the base game, this one’s a behemoth.

10. Monster Hunter: World + Expansions

Taking on the role of a representative of the Research Commission and exploring every region and zone of the New World was a fun and engaging experience from start to finish. There are so many monsters to hunt, so much to discover, and a whole lot of activities to engage in at your camp and the main base.

Quests flow from one to another almost as smoothly as the water in some parts of the New World, and you’re going to be helping your fellow companions and NPCs while having tons of fun along the way. It helps that this is a game that’s both charming in its writing and enchanting on the visual front. You can’t go wrong with this one, and it’s going to have you getting very creative in your approach to each distinct monster you’re tasked with bringing down.

11. Dragon’s Dogma 2

This sequel was an excellent new addition to Dragon’s Dogma. It was a pleasure to step into the shoes of the Arisen once again, and each of the playable classes brought something interesting to the table. But it’s when you begin to dive deeper into the world’s mysteries and begin to discover more about it that this one’s true depth shows itself.

You’re going to want to place your teleporting stones quite carefully, as the rest of the world actually has you travelling across it, navigating set pathways via a travel system, while the world’s unpredictability can make those trips quite treacherous indeed. This is an experience that is both memorable and filled with so much content and so little hand-holding that you’re going to be obsessed with discovering more about the world and the people you meet within it.

12. Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan is an obvious contender for a place on this list of massive games, and his adventures are so extensive that it can be hard to believe one man lived through them all. From kicking back with mini-games to exploring some truly bizarre stories that can come to you in multiple ways, this is a game that can have you walking and talking like a cowboy from the Wild West every chance you get.

It’s among the finest games in modern gaming, and its world is so full of clever little details to discover that hopping on your horse for a new day of exploring is going to take precedence over your leisure time for a very entertaining and lengthy block of time.

13. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla + Expansions

As the largest one in the franchise, Valhalla’s unique take on living your life as a noble Viking and uncovering the conspiracy across England, is a world worth getting lost in.

The game’s expansions do more to set up a lot of things, while coming with some brilliant new adventures for Eivor to pursue, complete with members of shadowy organizations to hunt down. It’s quite a tale, and a very large one full of fun things to do. Switching the cinematic camera on during a boat ride could have you spending more hours on this one than you’d like to admit.

14. No Man’s Sky

As one of modern gaming’s greatest comeback stories, this is a game that stands in its own class in terms of its shelf life. It’s an almost endless adventure, its narrative justifying multiple playthroughs in a way that makes total sense, while the completely random worlds that you get to explore and engage with are quite hard to leave once you start with them.

No Man’s Sky is a story about enjoying the journey, while also waiting eagerly to see what you’re going to find at its destination. It’s going to have you pushing past your bedtime with a smile on your face, and a sense of wonder compelling you to move forward and see just what you’re about to find.

15. Baldur’s Gate 3

With a stellar cast of actors bringing several NPCs to life, and an expertly narrated Dungeons and Dragons-based tale to have their settings intertwine with yours, Larian Studio’s banger continues to be a game that you can keep replaying, with astounding build variety and stories that never truly take place the same way when you play them.

There’s the Honour Mode, cross-platform modding support, co-op and online multiplayer, and a very dark take on the story to play through. Faerun is a great holiday destination, although the things you might find there can stay in the darkest corners of your mind rent-free.

16. Stardew Valley

We weren’t going to leave out one of the ultimate farming simulations from this one. Stardew Valley belongs here, with a playtime that doesn’t really end. You’re going to keep coming back to the farm that you grew from scratch, a town gradually building out of the effort you sink into, and the relationships with its many NPCs you build along the way.

No two days are the same out in this valley, and bringing in the online component is a great way to make this one as immersive as it can be, thanks to a thriving community of die-hard fans. You’re going to feel very welcome in this one, and you might choose to stay with it for a very long time to come.

17. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

This life sim always has a goal to reach, and things to do to get there. The Nook Miles system is its highlight, while the charming world and its uniquely retro art style make it stand out. Building out your presence in its world is an activity on its own, and you’re going to be quite obsessed with placing your buildings in a layout that’s to your liking, while getting them constructed has you constantly checking back into the game.

This is a game where you come to relax, and do that quite often, thanks to how entertaining it is to play, and how satisfying it is to stay with.

18. Gran Turismo 7

This PlayStation-exclusive racing sim is a great option for those of you who’d like to spend your time behind the wheel of a fast car on some of the world’s most iconic tracks. With PSVR2 support, incredible visuals, a very realistic translation of each car’s real-life track performance, and a lot of options to enjoy races at your disposal, you’re going to rack up a lot of miles on your ODO once you get started with this one.

The astounding visuals work very well with the game’s many systems that work well together to make your time on the track feel truly authentic, and push you to try taking those corners as well as you can. It’s time to let those engines loose and enjoy the results for hours on end.

19. Satisfactory

For a game carrying its title, this one is more than satisfactory, and can have you very immersed in building out your space base in your role as the Pioneer. Your factories are soon going to have you thinking about them while you’re away from your PC, and the potential for self-expression is almost humming with endless possibilities.

While its map is almost overwhelmingly large for most players, the ones who invest the time in hunting down as much to do as they can in this game are going to have a lot of fun building out their factories and playing their part in developing the corporation that put them there. Satisfactory is unique, visually distinct, well-executed, and simply fun to play, plain and simple.

20. Mass Effect Legendary Edition

This is the definitive way to enjoy a trilogy of legendary titles, bringing improved visuals and performance while also bringing in each title’s DLC and expansions into one title with a single character creator and the option to launch any of the three games from a unified menu.

If you’re familiar with the Mass Effect games, you already know that you’re going to be spending inordinate amounts of time with each one. You also know that their replay value is off the charts, and it can be easy to lose yourself in this trilogy’s expansive universe, where spending several hours making memories in it can become an entire holiday on its own.

That wraps up our list of the largest games you can get your hands on. We hope you have as much fun playing them as we did, and that the one you pick gives you many fond memories as you play it.

While the development team has made several changes, game director Tyson Green told IGN that there was a plan after The Final Shape. “We looked at the problem that we had, and we said, ‘We think there’s a route here,’ which is leaning into more systems of pursuit, getting new tiers of gear, armor sets, and power progression, and things like challenge customization.

“These things that can allow a core audience of players to really say, like, ‘I’m really gonna take this game and put it through its paces, and get good rewards for it.’

Things didn’t work out as planned, but Green says the team is committed to responding to feedback and not being a “dead live game.” “It sounds great on paper, but it didn’t work. I think we’ve been taught a bunch of hard lessons about what our players want, and there are really two kinds of live games: those that listen to the players and respond, and those that don’t.

“And we don’t want to be a dead live game, we want to keep building Destiny. So we’re listening to our players, and what our players are telling us is that they don’t want to chase a simple number that goes up, they want real rewards.”

Destiny 2: Renegades launches on December 2nd for Xbox, PlayStation and PC. Though Star Wars-themed and created in collaboration with LucasArts, it’s more of a Destiny-flavored interpretation of the IP, complete with Praxic Blades as lightsabers and the Barant Imperium in place of the Empire. There’s even Bael, a Sith-like antagonist who gives major Kylo Ren vibes with his voice (complete with a Revan-like mask).

Check out some of the new Exotics, including a Titan jetpack, and weapons, here. You can also find out more about the gameplay, which looks very Helldivers 2 inspired.

In a financial call part of the recent earnings report, Sony CFO Lin Tao spoke about Destiny 2 and the pressure that Bungie and Sony have been facing from a competitive market. This, according to Tao, has led to sales and engagement levels missing the mark, especially when compared to what Sony was expecting when it had acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion back in 2022.

“Regarding Destiny 2, partially due to the changes in the competitive environment, the level of sales and user engagement have not reached the expectation we had at the time of the acquisition of Bungie,” said Tao. “While we will continue to make improvements, we downwardly revised the business projection for the time being and recorded an impairment loss against a portion of the assets at Bungie.”

When it comes to year-on-year results, Sony has seen overall losses of around ¥18 billion in its operating income, with the company citing the poor performance of Destiny 2, as well as the expenses incurred “from a correction in the amount of certain previously capitalized development costs.”

Bungie has been continuously trying to turn its fortunes around by releasing new content for Destiny 2. While the player count for the online shooter has been dropping quite a bit, the studio is getting ready for the launch of the Renegades expansion for Destiny 2 on December 2. Earlier this month, a new trailer for Destiny 2: Renegades had been released showcasing some of the new weapons and gear that players will have the chance to earn.

Among the things we saw in the trailer were Star Wars-themed weapons like the Uncivil Discourse, which is designed to look like a blaster from Disney’s sci-fi franchise. There is also the Modified B-7 Pistol, which can make enemies explode into a shower of crystals made up of the Stasis element, as well as the Refurbished A499 heavy sniper rifle.

Some of the story from Destiny 2: Renegades was also showcased through a ViDoc released back in September. Players will get to infiltrate a criminal underworld to help save a friend that wasn’t able to escape their own past. Narrative director Alison Lührs had also spoken about the collaboration between Bungie and LucasFilm for the development of Renegades.

“The folks at LucasFilm were such great collaborators,” said Lührs. “They understood that, in order for this to work, we had to find where the Venn diagram of art and stories meet. Themes of underdogs rising up against something much larger than themselves, themes of those little places in that Venn diagram were the ones that really helped us find the stories that we want to tell together.”

Destiny 2: Renegades is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Check out details about the previous expansion, The Edge of Fate, in our review.

You have the standard Blasters, including Uncivil Discourse, which dissipates heat instead of reloading and the Modified B-7 Pistol, where kills cause targets to explode into a rain of Stasis crystals. Those who want to fulfill the Tusken Raider fantasy can use the Refurbished A499, a heavy sniper rifle which reloads after every shot. There’s even a Wookie Bowcaster-style weapon, the Heirloom, which fires explosive bolts.

As for Exotics, Hunters get Fortune’s Favor, boots that cause shields to recharge over time into an overshield. Warlocks can suspend enemies with Rifts and deal damage over time with Deimosuffusion. And Titans? They get Praxic Vestment, which unlocks an “advanced tactical air move.” In short, a jet pack, and it looks fantastic.

Destiny 2: Renegades launches on December 2nd. Check out September’s ViDoc to learn more about its story and activities (which channel Helldivers 2 in more than a few ways).

Hidey’s resume is quite impressive and includes Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Evil Within 2, and Starfield, among other games. She also worked at BioWare as part of the Mass Effect strike team, working on the finale for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and serving as lead producer on the next Mass Effect.

Hidey has been working at Bungie since September 2025, and it remains to be seen how her work will impact the looter shooter’s direction, which has been flailing since the release of The Edge of Fate. Much of this is due to complaints with The Portal, the Power grind, and various bugs, as seen in the recent Ash and Iron update.

Destiny 2 has a new expansion coming in December with Renegades, which takes multiple influences from Star Wars (and includes weapons like the Lightsaber and Blaster). Head here for more details.