Destiny: Rising — Full Review of the Mobile Spin-Off in the Destiny Universe
Destiny: Rising is a 2025 mobile spin-off that broadens the well-known Destiny universe into the realm of portable gaming. Developed as an independent project, it presents an original storyline, dynamic real-time combat, and complex RPG systems created specifically for touch-based devices. This review explores its development history, core gameplay mechanics, and overall role within the series’ expanding lore.
Development and Concept
The development of Destiny: Rising was carried out by Bungie in collaboration with a mobile-focused studio to create a full-scale experience tailored for iOS and Android. Instead of replicating console content, the team designed gameplay systems and graphics from the ground up, ensuring smooth controls and immersive storytelling adapted to short play sessions on smartphones and tablets.
One of the major innovations was the implementation of custom netcode to reduce latency in mobile multiplayer battles. This ensured that cooperative modes — a central part of the Destiny experience — remained intact, even on weaker connections. Adaptive visual settings were also introduced to balance performance and graphical quality on a variety of hardware.
In terms of concept, Destiny: Rising serves as a narrative bridge between the events of Destiny 2’s current seasons and its upcoming expansions. It explores the rise of new Guardians in distant colonies and shows how the galaxy is reshaping after the Witness saga, making the storyline engaging for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Visual and Audio Design
The visual presentation remains faithful to Destiny’s identity, with futuristic architecture, intricate armour sets, and lush alien environments. While models are slightly simplified to suit mobile processors, the overall aesthetic feels consistent with the main series and maintains a sense of scale during large-scale encounters.
Audio is another highlight, featuring an original soundtrack composed exclusively for this game. It blends orchestral motifs familiar to the franchise with ambient and electronic layers that capture the atmosphere of newly explored planets. Sound effects have been designed with spatial audio support, enhancing the intensity of combat.
Voice acting is also included, with professional English voiceovers adding personality to both new and returning characters. Subtitles are available in multiple languages, supporting the game’s international audience and contributing to accessibility.
Gameplay Systems
Destiny: Rising incorporates a hybrid gameplay model combining real-time action and RPG progression. Players can customise their Guardian with new armour, weapons, and subclasses while advancing through narrative missions. Equipment progression is tied to completing campaigns, dungeons, and public events across various planetary zones.
The game features a hub system similar to the Tower from Destiny 2, where players interact with NPCs, collect bounties, and manage inventories. This approach keeps the sense of community alive while fitting the shorter mobile session format. Seasonal challenges and daily objectives encourage consistent play without pressuring users with grind-heavy systems.
Another key element is cross-save compatibility, allowing players to connect their Destiny accounts and carry over certain cosmetics and achievements. This strengthens the link between the mobile title and the main series while maintaining independent progression systems to ensure balance.
Combat and Progression
Combat in Destiny: Rising has been adapted for touchscreen controls, offering virtual joysticks, swipe-based melee attacks, and simplified ability triggers. Despite these changes, the combat still feels fast, reactive, and skill-based, staying true to the series’ roots.
Progression focuses on unlocking new subclasses and upgrading gear through crafting resources gained in raids and PvP matches. Weapon perks are rolled randomly, encouraging experimentation without creating excessive reliance on loot boxes or pay-to-win mechanics.
The PvP mode features 3v3 arena matches and large-scale events similar to Destiny’s Crucible. Matchmaking is based on skill rating and latency to keep games competitive while minimising waiting times, which is crucial for mobile gaming environments.
Place in the Destiny Universe
Destiny: Rising enriches the franchise by expanding its narrative to uncharted regions of the solar system. It provides new lore on the aftermath of the Witness’s defeat, including emerging factions, political tensions, and the struggles of colonists on frontier worlds. These themes help integrate the mobile storyline with ongoing events in Destiny 2.
Several well-known characters appear in cameo roles, such as Ikora Rey and Saint-14, providing continuity while allowing new protagonists to take the spotlight. This balance between legacy and innovation ensures the game fits seamlessly within the broader canon.
The title also experiments with live narrative updates, releasing short episodic missions every few weeks that respond to the outcome of community events. This approach mirrors seasonal storytelling in Destiny 2, making the mobile game feel like an active part of the evolving universe.
Future Prospects
Bungie has confirmed a long-term roadmap for Destiny: Rising, with new content planned for 2026 and beyond. These updates will add cooperative raids, new PvP arenas, and additional narrative arcs that further connect the game to upcoming expansions in the main series.
There are also plans for cross-events between Destiny 2 and Destiny: Rising, where achievements in one title unlock cosmetic rewards in the other. This could encourage broader engagement across both games without making either one mandatory.
Overall, Destiny: Rising stands as a rare example of a mobile spin-off that delivers a full-featured, lore-rich experience while respecting the design principles of its parent series. It offers a solid foundation for further growth within the Destiny universe.
