Skip to main content

The Tower awaits: Activision Blizzard confirms ‘Destiny 2’ will release in 2017

destiny 2 confirmed 2017 rise of iron 008
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The sequel to Destiny will release later this year, Activision Blizzard confirmed in its 2016 fourth-quarter earnings report. An official title was not revealed, but the prevailing assumption is that it will be called Destiny 2. We do know, however, that the sequel will receive post-launch content like its predecessor, as the brief mention of the sequel on page nine of the document identifies “follow-on content plans.”

Destiny 2 was first revealed in early 2016 just prior to last year’s Activision Blizzard earnings call, with an expected 2017 release. After the final Destiny expansion, Rise of Iron, launched in September 2016, many wondered when we would receive an update on the sequel’s progress. When the franchise came to fruition, Bungie announced that new content would arrive annually for ten years, with full installments being released every other year. Although large expansions have been released each year since Destiny launched, Destiny 2, by Bungie’s planned schedule, missed its 2016 mark. Some have even been skeptical of Destiny 2 releasing in 2017.

Now that we know that the sequel will in fact release in 2017, we’re just waiting on solid information. Destiny 2 rumors have been trickling in since 2014, including some that suggest that the experience will undergo a radical makeover. Until we hear specifics from Bungie, though, we don’t really know what to expect.

The franchise has only grown in popularity since its original release in 2014, largely thanks to its four expansions, making it one of the rare console games that keeps its player base engaged through multiple years. Expectations for the sequel, it’s safe to say, are high for players who have stuck with the game for two-plus years.

In 2017, Destiny 2 will seek to help Activision Blizzard captivate even more players after a record setting year for the company in 2016. According to the earnings report, Activision games, led by the Call of Duty franchise, were played by an average of 50 million users per month throughout 2016. Blizzard titles, with much thanks to Overwatch and the resurgence of World of Warcraft, reached an average of 36 million users per month. In all, users reportedly spent approximately 43 billion hours playing and spectating games under the Activision Blizzard umbrella in 2016, including titles from King, its mobile division.

We can add to that outrageous number when Destiny 2 releases later this year. It’s expected to be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and possibly PC, if the goal really is to “broaden the franchise’s global reach,” as the earnings report stated.

Editors' Recommendations

Steven Petite
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…
Microsoft wins FTC case, removing Xbox’s biggest Activision Blizzard acquisition hurdle
Characters shooting in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Following a multi-week court case, Microsoft has won its battle with the Federal Trade Commission regarding its proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition. The ruling is a major win for Microsoft's troubled deal, clearing the biggest hurdle it faced.

Last January, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The blockbuster announcement immediately raised antitrust concerns, which resulted in the FTC filing a legal challenge in December 2022. Microsoft has not been able to proceed with the acquisition since then, as its faced similar scrutiny in the U.K.

Read more
Microsoft’s $69B Activision Blizzard deal temporarily blocked in U.S.
Character with ISO Hemlock in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

This article has been updated to reflect the judge's decision on Tuesday, June 13.

A U.S. judge has granted a request by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to put a temporary block on Microsoft proceeding with its $69 billion bid to acquire Activision Blizzard.

Read more
Activision Blizzard fined over Diablo Immortal’s microtransactions
Diablo Immortal's main screen on the Asus ROG Phone 5.

Activision Blizzard is being fined by the PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) Complaints Board and Enforcement Committee over the inclusion of microtransactions in its 2022 mobile game Diablo Immortal.

This news comes just after Nintendo got sued in North America over its implementation of loot box microtransactions in Mario Kart Tour. However, this decision comes from the European game ratings board PEGI after a reassessment of Diablo Immortal's rating. Activision Blizzard, along with Hunt: Showdown Bounty Hunter -- Limited Edition publisher Plaion, got fined over not properly disclosing the presence of microtransactions in their games when disclosing information to PEGI for a game rating. That's a shocking omission in Diablo Immortal's case, considering just how much it entices players to spend money on the game.
"Both games were published in 2022 and although they contain paid random items (like loot boxes or card packs), this was not disclosed to PEGI when the games were submitted for a rating license," a description of the case says. "Since this amounts to a violation of the rules described in the PEGI Code of Conduct, the PEGI Enforcement Committee sanctioned both companies with a fine of 5000€. The companies had also taken immediate action to update relevant store listings and marketing materials."
A fine of only 5,000 Euros is an extremely small drop in the bucket for a company like Activision Blizzard; Diablo Immortal alone was estimated to be making $1 million a day around its launch by Appmagic. Still, it's a noteworthy slap on the wrist and will hopefully encourage companies like Activision Blizzard to be more open and honest about the presence and relevance of microtransactions in their games. 

Read more