Destiny 2 may be getting destructible environments in the Witch Queen expansion

Destiny 2
Destiny 2 (Image credit: Bungie)

What you need to know

  • A group of Destiny 2 players have used a glitch to break into Quarantine Sector 236, an area in the EDZ that's currently not accessible normally.
  • The trees in this area can be dynamically destroyed via gunfire and melee abilities, which is a first for Destiny.
  • This suggests that destructible environments may be coming to Destiny 2 in the future.
  • Since hints suggest the swamps of Old Chicago may be where the upcoming Witch Queen expansion takes place, it's possible that we'll encounter destructible trees like these in the DLC.

Recently, a group of Destiny 2 players (including YouTuber JB3) managed to break into the Quarantine Sector 236 area in the EDZ. This was where Guardians originally went to reclaim their Light during the Red War campaign before it was put into the Destiny Content Vault, but at the moment it appears that Bungie is using it for testing purposes. Currently, two discoveries have been found in this area: statues shaped like Guardians and destructible trees in the environment that can be destroyed with gunfire and melee attacks.

The Guardian statues are the less interesting discovery, as these have been found in similar testing locations before and the community has concluded that these are tools used by Bungie for testing out the scale of environments in relation to players. The destructible trees, on the other hand, are incredibly interesting. Destiny has never featured destructible environments or props before, but the presence of them here suggests that Bungie may be planning to integrate them into future pieces of content. Since many in-game hints imply the possibility that the upcoming Witch Queen expansion in 2022 will take place in the swamps of Old Chicago, there's a solid chance that we'll see trees like this throughout the DLC's campaign.

It's exciting to think about how destructible environments could enhance Destiny's gameplay. It would be awesome to shoot platforms enemies are standing on out from under their feet or to make large objects fall onto a horde of enemies, crushing them instantly. Are you excited about the possibility of destructible environments in Destiny 2? Let me know.

The latest Destiny 2 expansion, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, is available now for $40 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. The base game is free, so if you're looking to try Destiny 2 out before paying for expansions or season passes, you can do so. If you do decide to try the game, don't miss my beginner's guide on how to get into Destiny 2 in 2021 as well as my guide to the best Destiny 2 builds, and how to make your own. Don't miss my roundup of the 10 best Destiny 2 weapons you need to farm in Season of the Splicer either, as new and veteran players alike will want to get their hands on them.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.