Destiny 2’s annual Halloween celebration, Festival of the Lost, is making its return this October, but there’s a growing consensus that the beloved event needs a refresh.
Since 2021, Bungie has swapped out the Haunted Forest—a timed, gauntlet-based challenge packed with various modifiers—for the Haunted Lost Sectors.
The Haunted Lost Sectors offer the same limited-time weapon and currency rewards, merely overlaying the standard Lost Sectors with a Halloween aesthetic, replacing the usual bosses with a pumpkin-headed Hive Knight known as the Headless One.
While this setup presents a fun diversion for a couple of weeks each year, the format has remained largely static through 2022 and 2023, with only changes in loot to engage players. As a result, Guardians are increasingly fatigued with the routine, yearning for a fresh experience or a revamped approach for the upcoming 2024 iteration.
Luckily, Bungie doesn’t need to develop new content from scratch; a ready solution is already available in-game: Onslaught.
Destiny 2’s Festival of the Lost event has maintained the same format since its transition in 2021.
The free update Into The Light, released on April 9, aimed at alleviating the content drought between Lightfall and The Final Shape, introduced a horde-style base defense mode that quickly gained immense popularity.
Adapting the Onslaught mode with Halloween-themed visuals—imagine cobwebs, Jack O’ Lanterns, broomsticks, and other festive decorations—alongside remixed enemy encounters and new loot to pursue would be a significantly more enjoyable alternative to yet another round of familiar Lost Sectors on Earth or the Moon.
Alternatively, why not merge the two concepts?
One user voiced their opinion on Reddit: “I hate Haunted Lost Sectors. To me, they’re so boring, and a horde, wave-based game mode in the Haunted Infinite Forest would be an excellent twist.”
Another suggestion included the idea that “New Onslaught maps with new enemy types could sustain the seasonal events for at least the next two years,” with additional enthusiasts chiming in, proposing “Haunted Onslaught with mini Tormentors crafted from pumpkins.”
Is there any hope that Bungie might consider something along these lines for the 2024 edition of the Festival of the Lost? It’s too early to tell, but as October approaches, players won’t have to wait long for news directly from the (Star) horse’s mouth.
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