Destiny 2 Expansions and Episodes Free to Play Until July 22

Bungie has made all currently available Destiny 2 expansions free to play for a limited time across all supported platforms. From July 3 through July 22, players on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store can access the following expansions for free: Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen, Lightfall, and The Final Shape.

This free access is part of Bungie’s “Destiny 2 Expansion Open Access” event. All players who participate can keep the Exotics, currencies, cosmetics, Triumphs, titles, and any other items earned while playing during this period.

In addition to expansions, the three episodes released for Destiny 2 in 2025 are also free to play, but only through July 15. These episodes are divided into three acts each and follow the structure of previous seasonal models. They resolve narrative threads that follow The Final Shape. After July 15, the episodes will be placed in the game’s content vault and will no longer be accessible.

From July 3 through July 15, a separate in-game event called a “lootapalooza” is also active. During this time, players receive increased weapon drops, currency rewards, and loot from final boss chests after encounters.

Players who log in each day between July 3 and July 15 will receive one Nonary Engram per daily login. These engrams provide access to cosmetics and emotes from the entire development history of Destiny 2.

According to Bungie’s July 3 announcement, players on PlayStation must have an active PlayStation Plus subscription to access certain multiplayer features. This condition does not apply to the other supported platforms.

Loot-based systems in Destiny 2 have previously drawn attention due to their resemblance to gambling mechanics. Bungie removed purchasable loot boxes from the in-game Eververse store in 2020. The game still includes random reward systems, such as Engram drops and item rolls. 

According to academic research, systems involving randomized rewards, such as loot boxes, are associated with features of gambling behavior. This includes the use of variable ratio reinforcement. Studies have reported a link between these mechanics and problem gambling behavior, even when the rewards do not have real-world cash value.

Destiny 2, launched in 2017, has a 10-year history that includes 12 expansions and multiple seasonal content releases. Due to Bungie’s content vaulting policy, only the five most recent expansions are currently playable. Earlier content, including the original Destiny game and older Destiny 2 expansions, is no longer accessible on current platforms.

As of 2025, only five expansions are currently available to purchase and play: Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen, Lightfall, and The Final Shape. Older content from earlier expansions and seasons is no longer available due to content vaulting.

Edge of Fate, the next major expansion, launches on July 15. As the first of two expansions scheduled for 2025, it begins a new saga for the game and will introduce a new location, new weapons, and new powers.

The Expansion Open Access event continues through July 22, with episodes available until July 15. Players can access expansions and episodes, earn rewards, and retain all progress after the event ends.

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