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Is Destiny 2 Beyond Light Free? A Friendly Guide on What Content You Can Play Without Paying

As a new player diving into Destiny 2 in 2023, you might be wondering what content is actually free. Can you play full expansions like Beyond Light without paying? What activities and gear are locked behind DLC purchases? This detailed guide will explain everything you need to know about what‘s free, what‘s paid, and most importantly – whether buying those expansions is worth it!

Let‘s start with the simple answer first:

No, Destiny 2‘s Beyond Light expansion is not free permanently

Beyond Light was temporarily made free via PlayStation Plus in February 2023. But it has since reverted to a paid expansion retailing for $24.99.

The good news? There‘s still a ton of great content you can play in Destiny 2 without spending any money. Let‘s break it down.

What content can I play for free in Destiny 2?

Here‘s a quick overview of what‘s included in the free-to-play Destiny 2 experience:

  • Original Destiny 2 campaign + introductory missions
  • Open world exploration and public events on all destinations
  • Core playlist activities: Strikes, Crucible PvP, and Gambit
  • Limited vendors, exotics, and gear
  • Social spaces like the Tower to group up with others

This offers about 15-20 hours of initial story content, plus weekly strikes, PvP, and other co-op modes you can grind out. Not bad for a free-to-play game!

Destiny 2 didn‘t always have a free option. When it first launched in 2017, all players had to purchase the base game, then each annual expansion.

In 2019, Bungie split from publisher Activision and went independent. The following year, they pivoted to a free-to-play model to attract a wider audience.

This expanded the player base from around 1 million daily players to 5-10 million. But it also meant pivoting their monetization towards à la carte expansions and seasonal passes.

Now let‘s cover what content requires purchasing expansions.

What key activities and gear require paid expansions?

While you can play Destiny 2‘s core modes for free, most supplemental gear, activities and progression systems require purchasing expansions, including:

  • Expansion campaign missions – approx 2-4 hours of story content each
  • Raids – 6 player endgame co-op challenges
  • Dungeons – 3 player mini-raids with unique loot
  • Trials of Osiris – Competitive 3v3 PvP mode
  • Grandmaster Nightfalls – Timed strikes with max difficulty
  • New destinations – New patrol zones to explore
  • New subclasses – Darkness elements like Stasis and Strand
  • Exotic weapons and armor – Unique perks and abilities

So in summary, you can enjoy the basics of Destiny 2 without paying. But buying expansions is the only way to experience high-level PvE and PvP.

Many players liken the free version to an unlimited trial. You get a taste, but have to pay for the full experience and progression.

Now onto the good stuff:

Which expansions can I play or unlock for free?

In the past, older expansions like Forsaken and Shadowkeep were made free once their successor launched. Unfortunately, that content has now been "vaulted" – removed from the game.

This was necessary to keep the file size reasonable and make way for new content. But it means less free access for new players.

Currently, the only two expansions you can play for free are:

Beyond Light (Feb 2023)

  • Free via PlayStation Plus monthly games
  • Added the Europa destination, Deep Stone Crypt raid, and Stasis subclass
  • Stasis offers new freezing abilities and is still essential in high level PvE

The Witch Queen (Until Feb 26, 2023)

  • Temporarily free for all players until Feb 26
  • Includes Throne World destination, campaign, raid, weapon crafting
  • Biggest selling expansion and a great intro to Destiny lore

So enjoy Beyond Light on PlayStation, or play The Witch Queen while you can! But sadly, their content will revert to paid expansions soon.

I know what you might be thinking next…

Are Destiny 2‘s expansions worth buying? Let‘s weigh the pros and cons:

Destiny 2 expansions add a ton of content, but also come with a hefty price tag. Here are the main pros and cons to weigh when considering buying them:

Pros of Expansions:

  • Access to raids, dungeons, and endgame PvE activities
  • New destinations to explore and loot to acquire
  • Campaigns offer cool story content and exotic quests
  • New subclasses that add unique abilities and builds
  • Hundreds of hours of potential playtime per expansion
  • Experiencing Destiny 2 to its fullest extent

Cons of Expansions:

  • Expensive up front cost of $40-$80 depending on edition
  • Content is temporary – may be removed from the game after 1-2 years
  • Can feel like a waste if you don‘t play enough to justify cost
  • Peer pressure to buy just to play with friends
  • Duplicate and confusing bundles/season passes

As a free player, my recommendation is to play the core modes until you hit the level cap. This will let you experience all that‘s available without paying.

If you‘re still hungry for more, buy Beyond Light first. This will give you access to the essential Stasis subclass for just $24.99.

The Witch Queen is also a fantastic expansion if you want to dive into weapon crafting and the latest endgame. But keep in mind the hefty $39.99 cost.

Let‘s move onto some expert tips for navigating Destiny 2 as a free player.

Tips from a Destiny 2 Expert on Enjoying the Free Experience

As a top 3% Destiny 2 player who‘s invested over 1,000 hours, here are my tips for new free players:

  • Focus on completing the original campaign first – This will naturally introduce all core activities and progression systems. Feel free to explore, but stay focused on pushing through the story.

  • Experiment with all classes – Try out the Hunter, Warlock, and Titan to see which vibes with your playstyle. Their abilities play differently in PvE and PvP.

  • Hold off on buying expansions right away – Play through all the free content and reach the soft cap first. This will let you know if you enjoy Destiny enough to justify buying expansions. No FOMO!

  • Find a clan or community to play with – Running activities with a regular group makes everything more rewarding. The core modes remain lively thanks to the free-to-play population.

  • Bookmark a build guide – Destiny 2‘s mods, stats, and gear take a while to wrap your head around. Having a go-to build guide will help optimize your character.

The most important tip is to enjoy the journey! Destiny 2 is a virtual world full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. Let curiosity guide you, and don‘t get overwhelmed by the min-maxing.

The free content offers a great glimpse into the magic of Destiny. But buying the DLC unlocks the full experience that has captivated millions of fans worldwide.

Hopefully this guide has answered the essential questions all new players have about what‘s free in Destiny 2, and whether investing in expansions is ultimately worthwhile. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions!

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.