Do you need Witch Queen Deluxe for the new dungeon? A Complete Guide

Hey there, as an experienced Destiny player and business analyst, let me start by clearly answering the question at hand:

Yes, you need the Destiny 2: Witch Queen Deluxe Edition in order to access the newest dungeon content.

The Deluxe Edition includes the upcoming dungeons in Year 5, while the standard edition of the expansion does not. But you also have the option to buy the Witch Queen Dungeon Key separately if you don‘t want the full Deluxe Edition.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down exactly what you get with each version of Witch Queen and provide expert insights to help decide which is right for you as we head into the second half of Year 5.

What‘s Included in the Standard Witch Queen Expansion?

The $40 standard edition of the Witch Queen includes:

• The Witch Queen campaign with 15 story missions
• Savathun‘s Throne World destination with new public events, lost sectors, and more
• Weapon crafting system allowing deep customization of certain guns
• The new Void 3.0 subclass updates with aspects, fragments, and supers
• All new Exotics from Year 5 (except preorder bonuses)

So with the standard edition, you‘ll get access to all of the major gameplay updates and narrative content that was part of Witch Queen. This includes an incredible 10+ hour campaign that longtime players like me consider one of Destiny‘s best stories ever told.

What Extra Goodies Come with the Deluxe Edition?

The Deluxe Edition provides the following extras for $80:

• Four Season Passes giving you activities and loot for Seasons 16 through 19
• Two Year 5 dungeons, with one dungeon each in Season 17 and 19
• Preorder bonus Exotic SMG, catalyst, ornament, and sparrow

The main selling point is those four season passes will cover you for all of Destiny 2‘s content for the next 12 months. That‘s a big chunk of change upfront but breaks down to $10 per season, which is a discount off purchasing them individually for $15 each.

Those dungeons are also a huge bonus – offering some of the most exciting and rewarding PvE experiences in Destiny 2. Trust me, you don‘t want to miss out on them!

Can You Buy Dungeons Separately from the Deluxe Edition?

Previously, dungeons were included with each season pass at no extra charge. However, Bungie has shifted their approach in Year 5. Now dungeons can be accessed in two ways:

1. Owning the Deluxe Edition
2. Purchasing the Witch Queen Dungeon Key for 2,000 Silver (~$20 value)

So if you don‘t want to spring for the Deluxe Edition, you can just buy the dungeon key to gain access to both Year 5 dungeons a la carte. It‘s clearly an extra source of monetization for Bungie, but does provide an alternative way to experience the dungeon content.

A Look at Destiny 2‘s Evolving Business Model

As an analyst, I think it‘s interesting to examine how Destiny 2‘s business model has changed over time. Launching as a full-priced boxed game in 2017, it then shifted to a free-to-play structure with paid expansions and season passes.

Witch Queen moved further into "unbundling" content through the separate dungeon key. Players have mixed opinions on this strategy. And it will be telling to see how Bungie balances monetization versus value in next year‘s Lightfall expansion.

So Is the Deluxe Edition Still Worth Buying?

This is the key question for new lights and returning players – should you buy the Deluxe Edition, even this late into Year 5?

In my opinion, the answer is yes for a few important reasons:

• It provides the most complete Destiny 2 experience over the next year
• Owning previous season passes allows you to play all their content and storylines, even from earlier in Year 5
• At $80 upfront, it‘s cheaper than buying 4 seasons and 2 dungeons separately
• You‘ll immediately have access to the Duality dungeon released earlier this season

Unless you‘re positive you won‘t play consistently over the next 8 months, I think the Deluxe is absolutely worth it. You just can‘t beat getting full access to ALL Year 5 content at a discount compared to purchasing individually.

The Deluxe Edition Represents Strong Overall Value

Let‘s break down the math:

As you can see, buying everything independently would cost $120. That‘s $40 more than the Deluxe Edition‘s upfront $80 cost. So you save 33% by going Deluxe!

Hard to argue with getting all Year 5 has to offer for 33% off. In my book, the Deluxe Edition is absolutely the way to go.

What Existing Expansions Should You Have Access To?

If you‘re returning from an extended break, here‘s my quick take on which older expansions you should make sure to own in addition to Witch Queen:

• Beyond Light – Added the beyond powerful Stasis subclass
• Current Season Pass – Provides seasonal artifacts and gear for builds
• Past Season Passes – Unlocks previous activities and loot rewards

Having Beyond Light and recent seasons will get you up to speed much faster in terms of subclasses, mods, and exotics. Fill out your collection and experience all the storylines you‘ve missed!

Will Dungeons Return to the Season Pass Model in the Future?

Based on the current structure, dungeons will remain monetized separately from season passes – requiring the Deluxe Edition or dungeon key to access.

Many in the community have expressed a desire to go back to the older model where dungeons were freely included in the season. But Bungie has reinforced this new system, claiming it allows greater investment into building dungeons.

In their defense, recent dungeons like Duality and Grasp of Avarice have been excellent. So we‘ll see if the quality remains high. As both a player and analyst, I‘ll be keeping a close eye on how this evolves throughout Year 5 and beyond.

The Bottom Line – Go Deluxe for the Best Destiny 2 Experience

At the end of the day, while the additional dungeon cost isn‘t perfect, I strongly recommend picking up the Witch Queen Deluxe Edition to get the absolute most out of Destiny 2 for the next year.

The amount of content provided for only $40 above the base expansion is hard to beat. You‘ll have hundreds of hours of activities, unlock powerful new rewards, and experience two of Destiny‘s best dungeon adventures – no FOMO!

Hopefully this guide gave you clarity around what‘s included with each version of The Witch Queen and how the pricing shakes out. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to provide additional thoughts and insights.

Now get out there and stop Savathun‘s plans, guardian!