Former Bungie dev says ‘you’d be surprised how many times’ expansions were pitched for a fan-favorite Destiny archvillain who’s now left hanging
Bungie has announced the end of live-service development for Destiny 2, leaving numerous narrative threads unresolved as the franchise faces an uncertain future. Most notably, Xivu Arath, the Hive god of war, will likely never be confronted by players despite years of seasonal storytelling building her up as an apocalyptic threat.
According to Bloomberg reporting, Bungie has not greenlit a Destiny 3 project, meaning existing plot developments may remain permanently unfinished. Other dangling narrative threads include the continuing threat of the Nine and unresolved mysteries surrounding the Vex network. This conclusion comes amid Bungie’s well-documented struggles in recent years and reported plans for significant layoffs.
Former Bungie senior narrative designer Robert Brookes indicated that Xivu Arath’s storyline had substantial untapped potential, noting that expansions featuring the antagonist were pitched multiple times during development. The lack of resolution represents a significant disappointment for longtime players who invested in the game’s extended narrative, particularly given the considerable foundation Bungie laid for Xivu Arath’s emergence as a major villain.
This ending leaves the Destiny franchise in limbo, with core story elements unlikely to receive closure unless Bungie eventually develops Destiny 3 or pursues alternative projects. For players who followed the carefully constructed seasonal narratives over years, the abrupt termination of live service effectively abandons some of gaming’s more ambitious ongoing storytelling efforts.