Destiny 2’s next content drop, Echoes: Act 2, brings return of Battlegrounds activity

The Strike-like Battlegrounds activity is returning in Act Two of Destiny 2’s current Episode, Echoes, when it launches next week.

In a new livestream today, Bungie confirmed three new Battlegrounds activities will be made available at the start of Act Two in Destiny 2, which will also include more battle pass tiers and story content.

For those unfamiliar, Battlegrounds are very similar to Strikes. They have two encounters and then a boss fight and are part of the Vanguard playlist where the two separate gameplay types are combined. Bungie said during the stream that it’s attempting to blur the line even further between Battlegrounds and Strikes.

Echoes: Act One’s story beats ended with Saint-14 asking to be left alone after a tumultuous visit to Nessus, where something very strange is happening with the Vex, thanks to one of the titular Echoes landing there. Saint was basically “kidnapped” by a new character called the Conductor in a very unnerving scene.

Bungie also teased “dark vibes” for the rest of the storyline in Echoes, so if you thought it was all happiness and sunshine after the Witness’ defeat, you’re sorely mistaken. The Vex are “evolving” and getting new abilities, such as the Wyvern now being able to teleport around you—as if they weren’t annoying enough.

Two Battlegrounds will be available on day one of the first week, while the third will become available in week two, likely first as a story mission before being repurposed into a Battleground.

During the stream, Bungie showed off gameplay of one of the Battlegrounds named “Delve,” and it showed off new weapons, including a rocket frame Solar sidearm named Aberrant Action. There will be plenty of new toys for players to seek out in the new act.

Echoes: Act Two begins in Destiny 2 next week on July 16.