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Next ‘Destiny’ expansion to be revealed in pre-E3 live stream

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Developer Bungie announced that it will reveal the next wave of content it has in store for its cooperative first-person shooter Destiny as part of a live-streamed event in the days leading up to the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

“This week at Bungie we’re preparing to reveal your next adventure,” the developer said on its website. “You’re invited to learn all about the next threat that you’ll confront as Guardians.”

Bungie hints that viewers will get a “first glimpse at what awaits you later on this year,” suggesting that Destiny‘s next major expansion will be detailed ahead of a planned 2016 release.

Publisher Activision recently confirmed that a Destiny sequel, initially slated for release in this September, is now scheduled to launch in 2017. Activision noted that in lieu of a full-fledged sequel, Bungie will produce “a large new expansion to Destiny in 2016.”

Leaked marketing materials indicate that the upcoming expansion will be titled Rise of Iron, and reveal that the update will mark the return of Iron Banner overseer Lord Saladin. No further details regarding the expansion are currently known.

Recent Destiny updates have focused on tweaking existing content, rather than adding new gameplay elements. April’s patch introduced new PVE challenges, increased the Light Level cap, and added a “Damage Referee” for the game’s competitive Crucible mode.

Destiny‘s biggest expansion to date, The Taken King, launched in September of last year. It was later bundled as part of an updated Destiny retail package that also included the expansions The Dark Below and House of Wolves. While specific release plans for the forthcoming update are not yet known, Activision may have a similar retail strategy in mind for Rise of Iron.

Bungie’s Destiny live-stream airs Thursday, June 9, at 10 a.m. PT via Twitch.

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