Edge of Fate May Break Three 11-Year-Old Traditions, But Not in a Good Way

For the first time in Destiny 2’s 11-year history, a major expansion is poised to drop without a Strike, Lost Sector, or Destination Activity. According to consistent leaks surrounding Edge of Fate, the new Kepler location may ship without the core PvE pillars that have defined every expansion before it. If true, this breaks from a precedent set since Curse of Osiris, one that even the most criticized expansions respected.

What makes this more baffling is how Destiny 2 would now be concluding the decade-long Light and Dark saga with Edge of Fate. Every previous expansion has tied the plotline arcs to long-term playability through repeatable content before this. Strikes, in particular, not only extend the life of campaign missions, but they also give players seasonal reasons to return. Skipping all three activities, as per the recent leaks, especially in the final expansion of the saga, feels less like subversion and more like omission.

Destiny 2 The Edge of Fate Reveals New Dark Matter Abilities

The latest tease for Destiny 2 The Edge of Fate shows off the new Dark Matter abilities players can use while battling enemies and exploring Kepler.

The Absence of Strikes Feels Like a Missed Opportunity

According to a leak by the X account BungieLeaks, Edge of Fate will not include a strike. The leaker, who previously revealed accurate info such as the Heavy Crossbows, stated they are “99% certain” that Kepler will launch without any strike, destination activity, or Lost Sector. If true, this would make Kepler the first location to lack all three core Destiny 2 PvE components. The post also noted that campaign missions in recent years (especially since Witch Queen) have been strike-like in structure already, making this omission all the more puzzling.

Since The Taken King, Bungie has used strikes to ground every destination into the core loop. They were core story anchors, onboarding ramps for PvE, and sometimes the only way new gear made it into the meta. A strike in Destiny 2 gave players a reason to stay in the zone, run bounties, complete Triumphs, and grind playlists. But without it, Kepler becomes an empty backdrop for a one-and-done story that lacks mechanical persistence.

Why This Sets a Risky Precedent for PvE Content

Edge of Fate removing strikes sends a strange message: that closure doesn’t need longevity. But Destiny’s entire design DNA relies on looping activities that feel good to replay. Without a strike, however, Kepler risks becoming a cinematic pitstop. If Kepler lacks Lost Sectors and destination activity on top of the missing strike, then Bungie isn’t just skipping a feature but sidelining player habit.

This is because every expansion builds long-term engagement by giving players something to do once the credits roll. That loop of bounties, exotic quests, and hidden bosses starts with the destination’s baseline features. Removing all of them from a new zone breaks that foundation entirely. Players may still get one or two campaign missions with replay value, but that’s not the same as an activity that sustains seasonal rotation or loot cycles. Even if the campaign is strong plot-wise, without strikes or Destiny 2′s Lost Sectors to revisit, nothing tethers Kepler to the long-term rhythm of the game. It becomes dead space in a franchise that built its reputation on spaces worth returning to.

Campaign-Only Design Doesn’t Fit the Final Chapter

There’s nothing inherently wrong with tightening the scope of the upcoming expansion. But cutting evergreen content in an MMO-lite title undermines replayability, and that is what makes this especially jarring for a game closing its flagship saga after over a decade. The Light and Dark saga conclusion deserves more than a story, and players need anchors to stay invested after the ending.

Edge of Fate might still deliver a cinematic climax, but without a strike, Lost Sector, or core activity, it risks feeling like a finale players will visit once and never touch again. And Destiny’s biggest strength has never been the cutscene, but what happens after. It’s also worth noting that the same source has stated that it’s possible for them to be wrong and that if it isn’t true, they’ll donate $100 to charity in goodwill.