Destiny 2’s ‘Renegades’ Launches a Bizarre Star Wars Crossover
▼ Summary
– Destiny 2’s new Renegades expansion is a licensed Star Wars collaboration that uses heavy visual and thematic inspiration but is not a direct Star Wars game.
– The expansion features numerous clear Star Wars parallels, such as equating Behemoths to AT-STs, a Praxic Warlock to a Jedi, and various planets to iconic Star Wars locations.
– This officially licensed, heavily inspired crossover is a new type of venture for Star Wars, aimed at attracting new or lapsed players to Destiny 2.
– The author believes the expansion largely works and represents a needed creative risk for Destiny, though the game’s long-term future remains uncertain.
– Renegades may serve as a more engaging starting point for new players compared to the game’s current dull onboarding system.
Destiny 2’s latest expansion, ‘Renegades,’ launches today, marking a bold and unconventional crossover with the Star Wars universe. This release continues Bungie’s shift toward two smaller annual expansions, but it distinguishes itself through a deeply integrated, officially licensed partnership with Lucasfilm. The expansion immerses players in a Destiny narrative that borrows heavily from Star Wars iconography, sound design, and visual themes, yet remains a canonical part of the game’s own universe. It’s a unique experiment in licensed inspiration rather than direct adaptation.
Upon seeing the logo, which uses a font strikingly similar to Star Wars, and an icon that mirrors the Rebel Alliance crest, the influence is unmistakable. This is not a traditional licensed product featuring direct characters or locations from the galaxy far, far away. Instead, it weaves clear parallels into the fabric of Destiny’s existing world. To avoid being an unlicensed imitation, Bungie secured formal approval from Lucasfilm, collaborating to define the boundaries of this creative fusion.
The expansion is filled with deliberate nods that fans will instantly recognize. The visual and thematic parallels are extensive and meticulously crafted. Players will encounter Behemoths that function like AT-ST walkers, a Praxic Warlock channeling the essence of a Jedi, and the villain Dredgen Bael evoking the presence of Kylo Ren. Iconic gear appears, such as the Praxic Blade serving as a clear analogue for a lightsaber. Familiar environments are recontextualized, with Europa standing in for the icy plains of Hoth, Venus echoing the forests of Endor, and Mars representing the deserts of Tatooine, complete with Tharsis Outpost mirroring the infamous Mos Eisley spaceport.
The auditory experience reinforces the crossover, with weapon blasters replicating the classic Star Wars blaster sound effects. Explorers will find a Sarlaac Pit, a Jabba’s sail barge-like vessel, and even enemies trapped in frozen ice caves in a direct homage. The references are pervasive, creating a layer of recognition that operates alongside Destiny’s core gameplay.
Having played the expansion, the ambitious concept largely succeeds. Destiny 2 is in a phase where taking creative risks is necessary, and this collaboration is certainly a bold pitch. The fact that Lucasfilm endorsed the vision speaks to its compelling nature. Community reception is anticipated to be more positive than for the previous ‘Edge of Fate’ expansion, though revitalizing player morale and engagement remains a significant challenge. These smaller-scale releases are unlikely to recapture the monumental impact of an expansion like ‘Forsaken,’ leaving the game’s long-term trajectory on its current path somewhat uncertain.
For new or lapsed players, ‘Renegades’ presents a potentially engaging entry point, offering more exciting initial content than the game’s standard onboarding experience. If the theme resonates, players can always explore older content later. Whether this strategy will successfully attract a broader audience remains to be seen as players dive into the new content starting at launch.
(Source: Forbes)
