Destiny 2 Release Date For PS4 And Xbox One, Raid And Nightfall Debuts Confirmed

Destiny 2's release is officially here on PS4 and Xbox One. After launching early for those with physical copies, Bungie has launched its new shooter, and things appear to be holding up pretty well. It warned of server queues when trying to log in, and while those were present, the wait for many was relatively short. Bungie has also shared some details regarding when other key components of the game will come online, including the Raid.

Destiny 2's first Nightfall Strike is already available, while the Raid kicks off at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST on September 13 (3 AM AET on September 14 in Australia). Trials will become available at the same time on September 15 (16 in Australia).

Bungie is intentionally not sharing any details on Destiny 2's first Raid. "If you have witnessed the race to become the first to topple the final boss, you know we keep Raid info well under wraps," Bungie said. "These are your moments to discover--your mysteries to solve. We've given you the when. You will soon discover the who, the what, and the where. Together, as a team, you might even discover the how."

We also learned that Destiny 2's Guided Games system won't be available until September 12 at 10 AM PT. This will be rolled out as part of what Bungie is calling a "soft beta," in that only some players can get in at the start. Guided Games is a new feature coming to Destiny 2 that will help solo players link up with Clans to tackle the most profound challenges in the game as a Fireteam.

"This will allow us to slowly ramp up players over the course of September (and allow Clan populations to grow) so that everyone has a great experience," Bungie said. "During the Guided Games Beta period, we need your Clans to fully test the system at scale. All Clans will be able to guide solo players, so once you’ve mastered the Nightfall, Fireteam up and guide solo players to the highest heights."

Here is a breakdown of when the Guided Games feature will begin:

• Nightfall Guided Games Beta: September 12th, 10AM PT
  
  • 30-50% of players will be given seeker access, depending on clan participation in Destiny 2 during the first week.
• Nightfall and Raid Guided Games: September 26th, 10AM PT
  
  • Target: 100% of players will be given seeker access.

In-game Clan functionality will be unavailable for the first few days, and full reviews won't arrive for a while longer, though you can check out our Destiny 2 review-in-progress for some early thoughts. For more, check out our feature rounding up everything you need to know about Destiny 2.