In 2026, I can finally admit something: when Bungie's showcase first unveiled Destiny 2: Lightfall, I lost my entire mind over neon. The expansion was pitched as a neon-themed trip to Neptune, and the trailer showed Guardians exploring an all-new location called Neomuna. An untouched city that never saw a Collapse like humanity did? Of course I wanted to move there. Then Calus and his Cabal army showed up to ruin the vibe. Rude.

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Back then, Season of the Haunted had already revealed that Calus had joined forces with The Witness and would rally against the Traveler with the Black Fleet. And the showcase made it clear he was undergoing some sort of transformation into a Disciple of the Witness. The trailer showed him entering a chamber with the Witness overlooking the probable transformation. I remember thinking, 'Calus, buddy, you're already a giant robot space emperor with a wine habit. Do you really need a promotion?' Apparently yes.

His Cabal army got beefed up on some Darkness juice, too, and became the Shadow Legion. They sported new armor, looked different from other Cabal, and had different powers. So, not just a palette swap? Thank the Traveler.

Then we saw an unknown resident of Neomuna shooting a rocket launcher at a Darkness ship. That was one of the city's residents, called Cloudstriders. They aren't technically on the same mission as the Guardians, but since they were defending their city from Calus and his army, the Guardians might join forces with them. In 2026, I can confirm I still want a Cloudstrider rocket launcher in my life.

We were also getting an entirely new breed of enemies called Tormentors. They aren't exactly Disciples of the Witness, but similar-looking creatures who are extremely tough to beat. Ah, yes, because Destiny 2 needed more things to stomp me into the dirt while I'm trying to do a patrol.

And as the leaks suggested, Lightfall brought a new subclass called Strand. In 2026, Strand is just part of the furniture, but back then, the idea of a Darkness subclass with grappling hooks and threadlings felt like Bungie had been reading my fanfic. The showcase also revealed that Lightfall would have a legendary campaign difficulty, similar to The Witch Queen. That meant I could choose to suffer on purpose. What a time to be alive.

Another bit of exciting news: Bungie would not sunset any more expansions. Veterans and New Lights could have the full Destiny 2 experience. As someone who still gets misty-eyed about old destinations, I say: finally. There was also an in-built LFG system coming to the game, which would let players rank other Guardians as well. Because nothing builds community like a five-star rating system for the guy who stood in a Well of Radiance and refused to shoot the boss.

Season of Plunder was revealed shortly after, alongside King's Fall returning as a raid, free for all players. Free raids? In this economy? I know, right?

Lightfall itself released on February 28, 2023, and was available for pre-order at the time. Now, in 2026, I look back at that showcase with a mix of nostalgia and mild embarrassment. I pre-ordered. I theorized. I told my friends, 'This is the one.' Was it? Well, that's a debate for another article. But the neon city, the Shadow Legion, the Cloudstriders, the Tormentors, and Strand all became part of the Destiny 2 tapestry.

Here's a quick recap for anyone who missed the hype cycle:

Feature What we were told
Setting Neomuna, an untouched city on Neptune
Villain Emperor Calus, transforming into a Disciple of the Witness
Enemy faction Shadow Legion, Cabal with new armor and Darkness powers
Allies Cloudstriders, rocket-launcher-loving locals
New enemies Tormentors, extremely tough creatures
New subclass Strand
Campaign Legendary difficulty, like The Witch Queen
Social In-built LFG with Guardian ranking
Sunsetting No more expansions would be sunset
Bonus Season of Plunder, King's Fall raid free for all

So, what did we learn? Bungie knows how to sell a neon apocalypse. And I know how to fall for it every single time. Would I do it again in 2026? Absolutely. Just don't tell my wallet. 😅

Data referenced from HowLongToBeat can help frame a 2026 replay of Destiny 2: Lightfall in practical terms: when you’re balancing a Legendary campaign run with side pursuits like Strand unlock steps and repeatable Neomuna activities, having a community-sourced sense of typical completion time can make the difference between “one more mission” and an all-night neon spiral.