The final segment of Destiny 2: Heresy recently concluded, marking what seems to be the last major story update before the arrival of Frontiers—unless, of course, Bungie has some surprises up its sleeve. Let’s face it: the past year has been a rollercoaster for the game. The much-praised “The Final Shape” expansion set high expectations, but the subsequent trio of episodes received a mixed bag of responses from the community.
Bungie’s next steps are under intense scrutiny, especially after wrapping up the iconic Light and Darkness saga with the 2024 expansion. There’s speculation and curiosity about what lies ahead for Destiny 2. The opportunity to engage players with an exciting new storyline is ripe for the taking, and it seems Bungie might have the perfect, albeit currently underutilized, character to lead this new chapter.
As we venture beyond the familiar cosmos, few characters are as equipped for the journey as The Drifter. His exploratory escapades through Destiny’s universe have always set him apart, and this outsider status makes him an intriguing enigma. Despite his sporadic appearances and mysterious persona, The Drifter’s character has long piqued the interest of players, yet much remains undiscovered about him.
This shroud of mystery around The Drifter has sparked considerable speculation. With his breezy charm and enigmatic, red-eyed Ghost, he layers intrigue beneath every surface. Bungie’s narrative approach has been to maintain a distinct separation between The Drifter and the Vanguard, allowing room for potential storytelling down the line. Recent revelations about his relationship with Eris Morn mark a significant step in deepening their character arcs.
In the upcoming Frontiers, The Drifter could potentially take center stage. His time spent in deep space could provide invaluable insights, a narrative vein that Bungie could certainly mine. There’s a piece of lore that suggests he’s the lone survivor of an encounter with uncanny dark creatures on a distant ice planet, with one allegedly stored aboard his spacecraft, the Derelict, crucial to running Gambit.
The paths The Drifter’s story could take in Frontiers are numerous. Unlike Crow and Zavala, whose histories have been extensively explored, The Drifter remains largely an enigma. There’s a chance that he harbors a secret from the fringes of space—a daunting shadow from his past he’d hoped to outrun. That revelation could be the pivotal moment for the next major expansion as it unfolds a threat significant enough to even intimidate The Drifter.
Interestingly, Gambit might have been a factor in The Drifter’s past underutilization. Gamers familiar with Destiny will already know that Gambit has had its share of love and critique. It thrust The Drifter into the storyline but has since waned, despite Bungie’s efforts to reenergize it. The narrative has attempted to broaden The Drifter’s role beyond just Gambit affiliation, yet this association might have inadvertently sidelined him.
However, with Frontiers on the horizon, there lies a chance to reposition The Drifter as a prominent figure comparable to Mara Sov or Eris Morn. Embodying a character whose life is built on layers of secrets, he is ripe for exploration in a narrative centered on venturing into the unknown and how it transforms an individual. This fresh start might be just what The Drifter—and Destiny 2—needs to redefine their legendary universe.
