S23/TFS/EPISODES PASTEBIN


this information is from a contact at bungie affected by the recent layoffs. they asked that i not release it immediately to help them remain anonymous, as their future career prospects could be in trouble if their name gets out. info is sparce and spotty because releasing too much could put them at risk

S23 LEAKS:

- dragons breath seasonal exotic (note - this was news when i heard it)
- seasonal activities are 3 battlegrounds
- each one begins at the wish wall, players can shoot it a certain number of times each (determined by seasonal upgrades) to trigger random challenges or buffs
- dungeon is a direct sequel to shattered throne, the objective is to restore it to mara's control. savathun helps (begrudgingly, but it is nescessary to get through the portal)
- season ends the dreaming city curse, aided by the actions taken in the dungeon. the 3-week cycle remains in the destination however

TFS LEAKS:

- very little 1-1 reuse of assets. old set-pieces (vog, kf, vow) are appropriated, but changed significantly
- rhulk used as a campaign boss (not really him, just same model. ghost will comment on it though)
- Lucient hive are in the traveller the same way cayde is - not really alive. they are being used as the traveller's main resistance to the witness
- one mission requires the guardian to make a tenuous alliance with ecthar to fight a shadow of oryx using hive magic
- pale heart is genuinely large
- "tree of silver wings" in one of these side bubbles, has mechanic where you give it collectables (earned through doing challenges in pale heart) to unlock rewards: unique red-borders and an exotic
- main aim of the pale heart is to "give players a long-term system to chase."
- raid boss is a 4 phase fight against the witness, ends with the witness' darkness connection severed, and "a new type" of darkness released into the world. the lore rivals VOW's
- no new subclass planned for tfs, although it is in development. the red subclass leaks were real. bungie may end up including the new subclass with TFS if the delay happens.

ECHOES:
- venus returns (mission(s) on venus were planned for lightfall but got cut, so much of the work was already done)
- osiris' echoes sent out to explore the infinite forest have been subsumed by the vex
- new "vex" enemy: ECHO - special buffer unit. casts song of flame, so allied projectiles scorch on hit. also applies "withered", which either reduces accuracy, reduces fire rate or both (was still in playtest so not final)
- "withered" is a tease for the next subclass
- two osirises: regular one, and an echo who is now a major vex antagonist, in control of the precursor vex.
- precursor vex invasion of venus. lots of cool chrome/gold stuff littered around the landscape
- episode story is mostly about finding out what is going on. eris morn, osiris involved

BEYOND
- episodes are being structured as enjoyable experiences to play through in one sitting.
- vaulting will continue, but bungie plan to let old episode campaigns be replayed on a rotation.
- plans to improve the new player experience significantly, move aspect/fragment unlocks away from vendor
- episodes to be shadowkeep-sized, potential plans to continue episodes with greater investment as a replacement to tfs/lf/wq size expansions
- no 2025 expansion planned

SUBCLASS

- subclass to be released alongside an episode "when it's ready"
- internal codename "terror" (not final - think "vapor")
- "wither" is one verb, with accuracy, move speed and fire-rate decrease
- "decompose" is like a big damage over time thing
- "mind control" ability
- splatoon-like focus on painting terrain with zones. very cool!


(contact's personal speculation)

expects we'll see "sequel episodes" eventually, like "echoes 2" that follows up on the vex osiris plotline. doubts bungie would commit to endless stories without interconnection