Will there be a Destiny 3? Speculation and rumors about the future of Destiny

Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion put an end to the 10-year saga, and it’s natural for fans to think about Destiny 3.

The current installment of the franchise is already seven years old, which comes with a heavy burden. The idea of a Destiny 3 has loomed around the community, but more as a far-off hypothetical than something certain. The Final Shape would be the perfect time to start a new part of the franchise, with the sealing of the Witness’ fate and the vital information presented through the campaign and the post-campaign. It seems that Destiny 2 is sticking around for some time, though.

Here’s what we know so far about Destiny 3—and why it’s probably not coming in the near future.

Has Destiny 3 been confirmed?

So far, Bungie hasn’t officially confirmed Destiny 3. The year of The Final Shape will bring three episodes, and 2025 will usher in the yet-unknown Destiny 2: Codename Frontiers. It’s shown alongside Destiny 2 in the video, so it’s relatively safe to assume this is another extension of the second installment of the franchise instead of a new game.

Destiny 3 would also likely require some changes to major game systems, with a bigger vision to adapt the good bits of D2 and improve the parts that don’t land as well. The developer may fix some of these elements in the current game before iterating on them for the sequel.

This does not mean there will never be a Destiny 3, but Bungie seems happy to maintain Destiny 2’s ecosystem for the time being. A hypothetical sequel could also be potentially challenging to Bungie, which is developing D2 and Marathon simultaneously and suffered big hits with its Lightfall expansion.

The studio has already outlined its plans for the next years of Destiny 2, with the first set of episodes marking the end of year 10 and Codename Frontiers seemingly being the key driver for the franchise in 2025.

Destiny 3 is probably coming eventually, but Bungie still has more stories to tell in Destiny 2 before making a sequel.

Codename “Payback” leak

While there aren’t any official comments regarding a direct sequel, recent leaks could suggest a shift in plans.

One such leak surfaced on the Destiny 2 subreddit a month before The Final Shape’s reveal. It described a system called “Prism” that allows players to mix and match subclass abilities, a detail that perfectly aligned with the new Prismatic subclass showcased during the stream.

This coincidence lent significant credibility to the leak’s secondary claim: Destiny 3, codenamed “Payback.” According to the leaker, there will be major changes in Destiny 3, like the removal of class restrictions. Further fueling the speculation, Luke Smith, Bungie’s executive creative director, offered a cryptic message: “Facing The Witness isn’t the end of Destiny 2, and it’s definitely not the end of Destiny.” With The Final Shape now here, Destiny fans can likely expect more concrete information in the future, both regarding the expansion’s conclusion and the future of the franchise.