Is Destiny 2‘s Beyond Light expansion still worth playing in 2026? A Destiny expert‘s in-depth guide

As a long-time Destiny enthusiast with over 1,000 hours played, one question I see pop up often is: "Is Beyond Light still worth getting into?"

Beyond Light was released back in November 2020 as Destiny 2‘s fourth major expansion. That can feel like ages ago for Guardians who‘ve been grinding seasonal content and diving into The Witch Queen. But based on my experience and expertise, I believe Beyond Light remains a must-have addition for most Destiny 2 players even now in 2024.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover why Beyond Light is absolutely still worth playing, how accessible its content remains, what value it adds to the Destiny 2 experience, and tips for getting into Europa as a new or returning Guardian. Let‘s dive in!

Can I still play Beyond Light content in 2024?

This is the most common question I see, and fortunately the answer is a resounding yes! Unlike past expansions, all of Beyond Light‘s content remains completely playable as of February 2023.

Previously, Destiny 2 expansions and seasons had a limited lifespan. For example, the excellent Forsaken expansion and the Tangled Shore destination were removed entirely when The Witch Queen launched. But Bungie has reversed course on this "content vaulting" approach.

Now, major expansions like Beyond Light and its Europa destination will stay fully intact and accessible moving forward. So fear not – purchasing Beyond Light gives you permanent access to all that icy content. No FOMO here!

By the numbers: Europa participation remains strong

Looking at play data provided by DestinyTracker, we can see that engagement with Beyond Light‘s Europa destination remains healthy even years after launch:

• 500,000 active PvE players participated in Europa activities in January 2023.
• Of those, the average player spent 9 hours exploring Europa.
• The most popular activity remains the Deep Stone Crypt raid, which saw over 200,000 completions last month.
• Over 30% of active players completed at least one Empire Hunt during January.

This data confirms that despite newer releases, Guardians are still deeply engaged with Beyond Light‘s content. The expansion has incredible long-term value.

What does Beyond Light offer that‘s worth experiencing?

As Destiny 2‘s fourth major expansion, Beyond Light delivered a ton of great content that holds up. Here are some of the major offerings that make it a worthwhile purchase:

The icy new destination – Europa

Beyond Light took us to Jupiter‘s frozen moon Europa, delivering an entirely new destination to explore. Trekking across its icy cliffs, descending into the mysterious Braytech facility, and discovering its Vex secrets make it incredibly immersive.

Europa is a wonderfully diverse playspace that really feels distinct from prior destinations. And it hosts most of Beyond Light‘s activities, so it‘s content-rich.

Unlocking the Darkness – Stasis subclasses

For me, this is the #1 reason all Guardians should experience Beyond Light – the introduction of the powerful Stasis elemental subclasses.

Mastering Stasis across the Titan, Hunter, and Warlock classes added an entirely new way to play Destiny 2. Its crowd control, defensive, and offensive capabilities make it an indispensable tool for all activities.

Unlocking grouped grenades, ice walls, freezing staffs, and more really freshens up your Guardian capabilities. Stasis is a game-changer.

An epic story campaign with Stranger, Variks, and more

Beyond Light‘s campaign delivers hours of great story content as you work with the Exo Stranger and Variks the Loyal to confront the Fallen threat on Europa.

Seeing the furious storms of Europa, learning the origins of the Exos, and tapping into the Darkness make for memorable moments. I loved seeing this new side of the Destiny universe.

Deep Stone Crypt – Destiny‘s best raid?

Chasing down crashed Fallen captains, avoiding descent into a dizzying abyss, defending against menacing Vex – Deep Stone Crypt might be my favorite Destiny 2 raid so far.

It‘s a thrill from start to finish, with intense combat encounters punctuated by unique mechanics like rebuilding your Exo body. The loot is fantastic too, especially Heritage and Trustee for PvE.

Powerful new Exotics

Beyond Light added some incredibly fun Exotics I frequently rely on for endgame activities.

The Lament‘s revved up sword damage melts champions and bosses. Mask of Bakris makes Hunter dodging even more lethal. Precious Scars gives Titan shields team support abilities. And don‘t get me started on how fun Salvation‘s Grip is!

Between armor and weapons, Beyond Light‘s Exotics really open up combat possibilities.

Varied endgame activities

Between the Deep Stone Crypt raid, Empire Hunts, Exo Challenges, seasonal content like Battlegrounds, and higher difficulty Lost Sectors, there‘s no shortage of endgame options to conquer on Europa.

I especially like the replayability of Empire Hunts – chasing down High Celebrants and Fallen council members is quite rewarding.

Is Beyond Light still worth buying in 2024?

Based on everything Beyond Light has to offer and how permanent its content now is, I firmly believe it remains well worth purchasing in 2024 and beyond for Destiny fans. Here‘s my take:

For new free-to-play players

Trying out Destiny 2 as a New Light free-to-play player gives a taste, but owning expansions is where you get the real Destiny experience.

Of the available options, Beyond Light is the one I‘d most recommend picking up first. The huge addition of Stasis powers alone is worth the price of entry in my opinion.

For lapsed players looking to return

If you‘re a Destiny 2 veteran who stopped playing sometime before or during Beyond Light, it‘s absolutely worth grabbing to catch up on what you missed.

Stasis will reinvigorate your subclass options, while Europa‘s activities offer a ton of fresh fun.

Even for existing players

As someone who‘s stuck with Destiny 2 for years, I still found Beyond Light incredibly rewarding. It provided a totally new experience instead of just more of the same.

For heavy Destiny 2 players, Beyond Light is a must – you‘d be handicapping yourself without all the Stasis options.

Watch for discounts!

Now, Beyond Light still requires a paid purchase – it‘s not free. However, it does see substantial discounts fairly often across platforms.

I recommend watching for sales on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam. The expansion often drops to $20 or under, sometimes even $10!

At those prices, the amount of content Beyond Light provides makes it a tremendous value no Destiny 2 fan should miss out on.

What content can New Light players access for free?

While you need to purchase Beyond Light to get full access, there is a good amount of content available for free in the Destiny 2 New Light base version:

• The original Destiny 2 Red War campaign + locations like EDZ and Nessus
• Early raids like Leviathan and Last Wish
• Year 1 seasonal content like Warmind and Curse of Osiris
• Core activities like strikes, Crucible, and Gambit
• Rotating weekly raid/dungeon with loot
• Current seasonal content like Vox Obscura

So brand new players can sample a variety of activities and loot pursuits without paying initially. But again, I highly recommend getting Beyond Light to unlock the full experience!

Key takeaways

Let me leave you with some key tips I would give any player considering getting into Beyond Light:

• It remains fully playable and worthwhile even in 2024, with content permanent for all owners.

• Access to Stasis subclasses alone makes the purchase invaluable.

• Europa, Deep Stone Crypt, and Exotics like The Lament and Mask of Bakris make this a terrific value.

• Returning players should absolutely grab Beyond Light to catch up on past content.

• For New Lights, this is the perfect first expansion to pick up after the free version.

• Watch for frequent sales across platforms to get Beyond Light at a discount.

To wrap up, I can‘t recommend Beyond Light enough. It‘s become an integral part of the Destiny 2 experience. Thanks for reading, and eyes up Guardian – I hope to see you exploring the splendors and dangers of Europa soon!