Apollo is ‘non-linear’ and has no time gates

Things are happening in Destination countrypeople. Bungie recently published a huge new blog post detailing the future of Lot 2 from 2025, and it’s anything but promising. The first paid DLC of 2025, Codename: Apollois especially interesting because it is supposed to be a ‘non-linear’ experience.

Historically speaking, Lot 2The paid annual DLCs have always followed the same format. You get a extreme impressive first mission followed by a series of bespoke one-off content interspersed with patrol activities, strikes and other repeatables. Then, after loading up your power level and/or grinding a suitably high level of gear, you jump into the final mission which sometimes just as impressive as the intro. Cue the outro cutscene, and you’re doneAccording to Bungie, Destination 2: Apollo will instead be a non-linear experience, taking place “through dozens of threads that you will explore and discover.” Interesting stuff.

Destiny 2: Apollo is perhaps the biggest DLC change yet

“Previously, in stories like The Final Shape, you experienced the story as A to B to C to D in a nice straight line,” Bungie explained in its recent blog post. “(In Apollo), when you land in our brand new location, the story starts at A, and then you can choose whether you want to explore C first, or try to get to B, or maybe investigate D.”

The parts you don’t explore on your first go through the campaign are said to stick around for later exploration. It’s a curious take on the Destination formula, sure, and I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of giving this a shot: “The order in which you explore is yours to choose, but we built Codename: Apollo so that the story always makes sense and flows from beginning to middle to end. There’s no time limit, no waiting for the next drop, Codename: Apollo’s story unfolds based on the player’s progress,” the blog post reads.

Now Bungie seems eager to try this brave new approach at its core Destination fantasy, it’s not something that will be set in stone for the next annual DLC, Behemoth. Bungie specifically says that “this shift to nonlinear storytelling isn’t something we’re locking ourselves into, but it’s the structure that best suits Codename: Apollo.” In other words, this could be a one-off that doesn’t pan out in the long run.

As it stands now, it is so, way too early to tell if Bungie is on the right track with this approach. Personally I’m all for it, but the details will make all the difference Apollo‘s non-linear view of Destination gameplay. Story-wise, things are promising: “Apollo ends with the narrative fuel that will propel us into the years to come with a clear theme, purpose, and a destination that won’t come at you in a straight line, but will be well worth the journey,” Bungie promises. “It will reward you, it will surprise you, and it will take us to places Destiny has never seen before.”