Destiny The Dark Below Free Content What Non-Purchasers Get

Bungie, the developer of the video game Destiny, announced that its first major content expansion, The Dark Below, would include a significant amount of free content available to all players regardless of purchase. This move was detailed in a series of official communications and subsequent reporting. The expansion, priced at $19.99 as a standalone purchase, was scheduled for release on December 9, 2014. For players who chose not to buy the expansion, Bungie confirmed that a free update would be deployed on the same day, providing access to new weapons, armor, and gameplay systems. This article outlines the specific free content available to all Destiny players and the additional content exclusive to those who purchased The Dark Below expansion.

The announcement was made during Bungie’s latest Weekly Update, as reported by multiple gaming news outlets. The core message was that The Dark Below would not partition the player base entirely; instead, it would introduce new elements into the shared world for everyone. This approach aimed to maintain community cohesion while still offering premium content for dedicated players. The free updates were designed to enhance the core Destiny experience by adding new gear and expanding gameplay mechanics like the Bounty system.

For non-purchasers, the free update introduced several tangible benefits. Most notably, all players received new weapons and armor. While the specifics of these items were not detailed in the provided materials, the inclusion of new gear was confirmed across multiple sources. This meant that even players who did not engage with the expansion’s narrative or raids would still see their inventories expand with new equipment, potentially altering their loadouts and strategies in both cooperative and competitive play modes.

In addition to new gear, the free update expanded the Bounty system, a daily task mechanism that rewards players with experience and reputation. Bungie added five additional Bounty slots, allowing players to track and complete more daily tasks simultaneously. This change was highlighted as a major quality-of-life improvement. Furthermore, new Daily Bounties were introduced, providing fresh objectives for players to pursue each day. These updates to the Bounty system were available to all players, regardless of whether they purchased The Dark Below.

The paid expansion, The Dark Below, offered a much broader suite of content. It included three new story missions set in the Cosmodrome and Moon, featuring new enemies and encounters. A new Tower character and vendor named Eris was introduced, who would provide new Quests, Bounties, and rewards. The expansion also added a new cooperative Strike called “Will of Crota,” a new six-player Raid titled “Crota’s End,” and three new Crucible multiplayer maps: Pantheon, Skyshock, and The Cauldron. Purchasers also gained access to exclusive Legendary and Exotic weapons and armor, and the maximum Light level was increased to 32.

A key distinction in the free versus paid content was the nature of the new activities. While all players received new weapons and armor, the new story missions, Strike, Raid, and Crucible maps were exclusive to expansion owners. The new Eris vendor and the Quests she offered were also part of the paid content. However, the free update did include some new Daily Bounties, which were available to all, though the full suite of new Quests was reserved for purchasers.

The release date for both the free update and the paid expansion was December 9, 2014. This simultaneous release ensured that the Destiny world evolved uniformly for all players on the same day. The free content was not a trial or a limited-time offer but a permanent addition to the base game for all users.

It is important to note that some information in the provided materials came from user forums and unverified reports. For example, a Bungie.net forum thread from December 2014 included users requesting or trading codes for The Dark Below expansion. These posts reflect community interest and activity but do not constitute official information about the offer's structure or availability. The core facts about the free content and paid expansion details were derived from Bungie’s official Weekly Update and subsequent reporting by established gaming news sites, which are more reliable sources for this information.

In summary, Bungie’s strategy for The Dark Below expansion provided a clear bifurcation of content. All Destiny players, regardless of purchase, would receive a free update on December 9, 2014, that included new weapons, armor, new Daily Bounty tasks, and five additional Bounty slots. Players who purchased the $19.99 expansion would receive the full suite of premium content, including new story missions, a new Strike, a new Raid, new Crucible maps, exclusive gear, and a raised level cap. This approach allowed the developer to monetize new content while keeping the core game world populated and updated for the entire community.

Sources

1. GamerHeadlines.com
2. MP1st.com
3. WeGotThisCovered.com
4. Bungie.net Forum