If you‘ve been considering trying out Destiny 2 or returning after some time away, I have great news for you! Bungie has made the acclaimed The Witch Queen expansion free for all players until late February 2023. This offers an exciting opportunity to experience one of Destiny 2’s biggest and most praised additions at no cost.
To provide a quick answer up front: Yes, The Witch Queen expansion for Destiny 2 is completely free to play on all platforms until February 26-27, 2023. This gives new and returning players ample time to check out the expansion and decide if they want to continue on in Destiny 2.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about accessing The Witch Queen for free, what it includes, tips for new players, and how this promotion fits into Destiny 2‘s past expansions and future. Let‘s dive in!
A Brief History of Destiny 2 and its Major Expansions
To understand the context around The Witch Queen‘s free offer, it helps to know the game‘s background. Destiny 2 originally launched in 2017 as a follow-up to Destiny. It‘s a first-person shooter with roleplaying and massively multiplayer online elements. Players create a magical Guardian character and unite to protect humanity‘s last safe city against alien threats.
Destiny 2 has grown substantially over the years into one of the most popular ongoing live service games. Major expansions add new story campaigns, destinations to explore, activities, gear, and more. Here‘s a quick look at Destiny 2‘s evolution through expansions:
2017 – Destiny 2 Base Game. Introduced new story, classes, and multiplayer activities.
2018 – Forsaken expansion. Added the Last Wish raid and new subclasses.
2018 – Warmind expansion. Brought Escalation Protocol horde mode and Mars destination.
2019 – Shadowkeep expansion. Added the Moon destination and Nightmare enemies.
2020 – Beyond Light expansion. Introduced Europa destination, Stasis subclass.
2022 – The Witch Queen expansion. Added Throne World destination, weapon crafting.
This brings us to the current free offer for The Witch Queen, which I‘ll now dive into more extensively!
What Exactly Can You Access for Free?
During the promotional period until late February 2023, all Destiny 2 players on any platform can access the following content from The Witch Queen expansion at no cost:
The entire Witch Queen campaign – Around 6-8 hours of story content as you fight Savathun and the Lucent Hive. Many fans and critics considered this one of Destiny‘s best campaigns yet.
Free roam exploration of the Throne World destination – A hauntingly beautiful new realm to discover secrets and mysteries.
The new weapon crafting system – Allows deep customization and personalization for your favorite guns.
New Exotics like the Glaive, an exciting new melee-focused weapon type.
All of the Legendary and Exotic gear added in The Witch Queen.
You can experience the full Witch Queen expansion as if you owned it, excluding bonus seasonal content. And your progress carries over if you decide to purchase!
Does The Free Access Include the Base Game?
An important note is that The Witch Queen free access does not include the base Destiny 2 game. To play, you need to own the free-to-play core version first, available on all platforms. The Witch Queen builds on that foundation and adds a massive amount of content.
So if you haven’t already, go download the main Destiny 2 game first! It‘s a major time investment to dive into, but millions of players agree the ride is worth it.
When Does The Witch Queen Free Access Period End?
Here are the exact end dates to mark on your calendar for The Witch Queen free play period:
- February 26, 2023 – Access ends on Xbox consoles
- February 27, 2023 – Access ends on PlayStation, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Stadia
Be sure to jump in sometime before then to check it out!
How The Witch Queen Compares to Past Expansions
As mentioned above, The Witch Queen is the 6th major expansion for Destiny 2 over the years. How does it stack up against past releases?
Many longtime players consider The Witch Queen one of Destiny‘s best expansions yet based on its huge amount of content, satisfying progression, excellent storytelling, and strong reception.
Here is a comparison table to see how the main expansions line up:
| Expansion | New Destination | Major Features | Average Playtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Witch Queen | Throne World | Campaign, Weapon Crafting, Glaive Weapons | 30+ hours |
| Beyond Light | Europa | Stasis Subclasses, Deep Stone Crypt Raid | 25+ hours |
| Shadowkeep | Moon | Nightmare Hunts, Garden of Salvation Raid | 15+ hours |
| Forsaken | Dreaming City | Last Wish Raid, Lore Reveals | 40+ hours |
While all expansions are worth playing, The Witch Queen stands out as a terrific entry point based on its acclaim and lengthy amount of content for the price.
Tips for New Players Jumping In
Trying any massive game like Destiny 2 for the first time can feel intimidating! Here are some tips from the community for newcomers taking advantage of the Witch Queen free access:
- Don‘t worry about the story too much. Destiny lore is dense! Just focus on gameplay.
- Experiment with all weapon types to get a feel for the gunplay.
- Try out the different Guardian classes and subclasses to find your favorite.
- Pursue Exotics like Dead Messenger for powerful new abilities.
- Participate in public events on destinations to play with others.
- Focus on having fun shooting aliens and getting sweet new gear!
The most important thing is enjoying the incredible gameplay and progression. The rest will come in time. And there are many welcoming communities ready to help new players.
Will Making The Witch Queen Free Boost Destiny 2‘s Playerbase?
From a business perspective, Bungie is making The Witch Queen free to play for a limited time to promote the upcoming Lightfall expansion and attract new and lapsed players. Based on past examples, these free access events are very effective.
For example, when Bungie made Destiny 2 temporarily free on Steam in 2020, over one million new players jumped in. And a free to play promotion for The Division 2 boosted its player count by over 500%.
Many are predicting The Witch Queen‘s free period will have similar success. It could bring millions of new and returning Guardians into the game, many of whom will stick around if they enjoy it. This creates a healthy player base for future expansions.
The Witch Queen Sets the Stage for Destiny 2‘s Future
While The Witch Queen‘s free access is temporary, it comes at an exciting point in Destiny 2‘s evolution. The next expansion, Lightfall, arrives in February 2023. It will continue the story around the pyramids and bring players to the vibrant neon city of Neomuna on Neptune.
Early 2024 will also see the release of Destiny 2‘s next full chapter, The Final Shape. So players who get invested now have lots to look forward to!
But everything starts with the chance to experience an amazing expansion like The Witch Queen for free. It‘s the perfect time to give Destiny 2 a shot and be part of the game‘s thriving community and future.
Conclusion
I hope this guide gave you a comprehensive overview explaining how to access The Witch Queen expansion for free in Destiny 2 until late February 2023. Take advantage of this opportunity to explore an incredible new destination, intense story campaign, unique gear, and more without any cost.
Destiny 2 has evolved into one of gaming‘s most beloved ongoing service games. And The Witch Queen exemplifies the quality and depth its expansions provide. Whether you‘re brand new or a returning veteran, now is the time to reunite with friends and dive into the latest chapter of Bungie‘s epic sci-fi universe!
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to provide tips to help new players get the most out of this free access period. The Destiny community is always welcoming to new Guardians.
