During the course of Destiny 2's evolution, it has taken players to various locations across the Solar System to combat the forces of The Witness using Light and Darkness. A common link among these previous locations has been worlds riff with conflict or showcasing the scars of the humanity's collapse, resulting in dark and beautiful ruins to explore and fight in. However, Lightfall looks to change that as it will take players to Neptune to explore a vibrant, living city which appears central to The Witness' plans.
Bungie pulled back the curtain on Destiny 2's next major expansion as part of a reveal stream, diving into the story, new Darkness powers, and new allies joining Guardians in the fight against The Witness. The new allies, dubbed Cloudstriders, are residents of the colorful city of Neomuna, Neptune's capital city which has remained hidden from the ongoing conflicts across the Solar System. Bungie describes it as a city that lived through the Collapse which has now been exposed to the forces of The Witness and will now be ground zero for an invasion led by The Witness' newest disciple, Calus.
Neomuna is described as a city meant to contrast the ravaged, ruined worlds players have become accustomed too over the last eight years of Destiny and Destiny 2. As mentioned above, the city is a vibrant metropolis where an offshoot of humanity has been able to thrive in secrecy for hundreds of years. Emperor Calus' invasion, though, has effectively turned the city into a warzone as the former emperor's capital ship now rests in the center of Neomuna as the Shadow Legion slowly spreads across the city.
From a gameplay standpoint, Bungie said the new city also serves as a way to play with traversal and abilities, especially with the addition of Strand. Early gameplay footage of the city shows a destination offering greater verticality than previous locales, letting players make the most of Strand's grappling hook ability and Arc 3.0's emphasis on movement.
It is still unclear, though, as to how "lived-in" Neomuna will be when Lightfall launches in 2023. During the showcase stream, several Bungie developers emphasized making the city feel "alive" given how long it has remained hidden from The Last City and The Witness. It won't be surprising to see some of the city's residents in one of the landing zones which, narratively, may act as a refugee camp from Calus' invasion, while the rest of the city is filled primarily with Shadow Legion forces.
Destiny 2 is currently available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
