‘Destiny’ Dropping Last-Gen Support Because It Would Have Meant Cutting Content

Destiny has officially cut off new content for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, meaning the upcoming Rise of Iron will not hit last-gen consoles. Bungie Community Manager David “Deej” Dague took to the various stages at E3 2016 where he explained why only PS4 and Xbox One owners will continue forward.

Approximately 90 percent of the Destiny player base plays on the PS4 and Xbox One, according to Dague’s comments on an IGN livestream at E3. Bungie isn’t necessarily looking to force those players to upgrade to the current-gen console, but the developer does want to be able to add new content and expand the game.

Technical limitations with previous gen consoles meant adding new content to Destiny but also meant cutting older content once Rise of Iron released. While older story missions and Strikes are not always played, cutting that content would have been a major blow to new players and an easy target for complaints. Players saw similar limitations force Bungie to make compromises to the game, such as the long time it took for Vault space to be expanded.

Dague insists this does not mean Destiny will be unplayable for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners when Rise of Iron launches on September 20. How this will work in practice remains to be seen. The original Destiny release was still technically playable when The Taken King was released last year. However, those that did not upgrade were locked out of the weekly Nightfall and Heroic Strikes along with all but one of the Strike playlists. Meanwhile, many of the existing Crucible PVP playlists were inaccessible. This primarily left just the story missions and Vault of Glass for those locked into Destiny Year One.

Whether something similar happens with Destiny: Rise of Iron remains to be seen. It’s hard to see Bungie supporting separate playlists for last-gen consoles, though.

As previously covered, Destiny: Rise of Iron is scheduled for a September 20 release and will cost $30. It does require The Taken King release from September 20. Those who pre-order the expansion will receive a black and gold Iron Gjallarhorn after completing an in-game quest. Those who don’t pre-order can still complete the quest to receive the Exotic Rocket Launcher, which involves forging an all-new weapon.

The theme of Destiny: Rise of Iron is exploring and dealing with the remnants of the Golden Age. The Iron Lords sacrificed themselves to stop the spread of a plague called SIVA. This technological plague has returned

It will also explore the history of the Iron Lords, who they were, and why they have weapons named after them. This includes a journey to Felwinter’s Peak, which holds the Iron Temple, a mausoleum for the Iron Lords, and the new social space for Destiny. The expansion will begin with players ascending the peak to take back the mountain and the temple.

Fallen Splicers have dug deep into old technology and have begun to use the SIVA virus to augment and mutate their bodies. This plague has been unleashed from the Cosmodrome and used to transform the surrounding area into the Plaguelands. This is the new playable zone players will encounter and includes its own separate spawn point from the rest of the Cosmodrome.

The expansion will feature a new story campaign and quests, a new Strike, and a new Raid. Bungie has only provided teasers so far, but the developer says it will reveal more in the months leading up to the Rise of Iron release. What we’ve seen so far is a new Strike boss plus a Raid encounter atop the wall, which is jokingly referred to as the “Death Zamboni.”

New Crucible multiplayer maps and modes are also promised, but will be revealed at a later date. The developers did confirm Trials of Osiris will receive all new gear, however.

What do you think of Destiny leaving the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 behind? Sound off in the comments section below.

[Image via Bungie]