If you’ve been waiting for a fresh way to experience the Destiny universe, Destiny Rising is here to deliver. This mobile spin-off, developed by NetEase in collaboration with Bungie, officially launched worldwide on August 28, 2025, and brings the iconic looter-shooter to iOS and Android. And Rising reimagines the formula for mobile play: collectible heroes, touch-friendly combat, and bite-sized progression that still feels connected to the larger universe.
The mix of familiar and new. You’ll still face off against Fallen, Vex, and Hive, explore zones full of hidden chests, and run co-op Strikes. But you’ll also see changes designed specifically for mobile, like the Lightbearer system (collectible heroes instead of custom Guardians) and a gacha model for unlocking them. This overview breaks down what Destiny Rising is, its features, gameplay modes, and how it differs from Destiny 2.
About Destiny Rising
Destiny Rising is a free-to-play mobile RPG shooter set in an alternate Destiny timeline. While the Traveler and Guardians still exist, the story diverges with new factions, giant sentinel machines, and a central hub called Haven that serves as the player’s base.
From Haven, you access vendors, upgrade weapons and relics, and pick up quests before heading into missions.
The game launched globally on August 28, 2025. It supports full cross-play between iOS and Android, though there’s currently no cross-server play. You can also play from a PC, but only with an emulator.
What makes Destiny Rising unique is how it blends familiar Destiny gunplay with mobile-style progression. Unlike many other mobile RPGs, it doesn’t feel like a stripped-down copy, it feels like its own take on the Destiny universe.
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Destiny Rising Features & Systems
Lightbearers System
The game shifts focus from custom character creation to a hero collection system. You collect Lightbearers, unique heroes with their own relics, subclasses, and abilities. At launch there are 13 Lightbearers, including familiar faces like Ikora Rey, as well as new characters such as Wolf, your first resurrected hero. Each Lightbearer is tied to a subclass (Solar, Arc, Void) and comes with preset weapons and skills.
Each Lightbearer comes with a fixed kit: one relic, a Super, two signature skills, and passive perks.
Weapons are tied to characters, so your loadout depends on who you play. For example:
- Gwynn: aggressive duelist with SMGs and shotguns, plus a Void scythe that heals through kills.
- Tan-2: team support using scout rifles and snipers, able to deploy a buff zone that heals allies.
- Maru: AoE controller with grenade launchers, zoning space with chained Void explosions.
- Ikora: fan-favorite Warlock, now a burst controller with Nova-style supers and rocket launchers.
- Kabr: frontline tank, mixing machine guns with Arc barriers that lock down lanes.
- Wolf: the starter hero, wielding a Solar sword and simple primaries, built to teach core mechanics.
At launch there are 13 Lightbearers, and Bungie/NetEase plan to expand the roster over time.
Combat & Perspective Options
Combat feels immediately recognizable. Gunplay still uses Destiny’s tight but weighty style, and Rising adds a toggle between first-person and third-person view. Some Lightbearers can dual-wield weapons, and exotic gear like The Huckleberry and Izanagi’s Burden make their return.
The LMGs, sidearms, and sniper rifles behave much like their Destiny 2 counterparts, but tuned for touch controls. With a controller, though, Rising feels almost console-like.
Progression & Rarity
Instead of grinding a single Guardian, you level up your Lightbearers individually, unlocking abilities and improving relics. Gear follows the familiar rarity ladder: Rare, Legendary, Exotic, plus a new Mythic tier reserved for the strongest drops.
Progression is split between character growth (leveling Lightbearers, boosting stats) and campaign advancement (unlocking new zones and chapters).
Haven Hub
Haven acts as the game’s social hub, similar in Destiny 2. Here you’ll find:
- Vendors for weapons, cosmetics, and relic upgrades
- Quest givers tied to the story and side challenges
- Events, including time-limited rewards
- Upgrade stations for gear progression
Haven the place you always come back to between raids, PvP, or story missions.
Destiny Rising Gameplay Modes
One of the strongest parts of Destiny Rising is its variety of modes. Bungie and NetEase clearly wanted to capture the core Destiny loop: campaign, co-op strikes, raids, and PvP.
PvE Content
- Campaign: A brand-new storyline set in an alternate timeline of Destiny, with zones like Jiangshi Metro and Red Sea Rift. Missions are chapter-based, unlocking as you progress with your Lightbearers.
- Strikes: Three-player co-op missions return. Matchmaking is quick, and if not enough players join, AI bots fill the slots so you’re never stuck waiting.
- Raids: Full-scale raids are confirmed, bringing the same multi-phase mechanics Destiny fans expect, but tuned for mobile coordination.
PvP Modes
The Crucible is back, letting players fight it out in competitive arenas. It’s streamlined for mobile play, with modes like Control and Clash. Early impressions show smooth matchmaking and balanced team sizes, keeping fights fast-paced.
More Modes & Events
- Sparrow Racing League: A mode offering high-speed races across unique tracks.
- Side Challenges: Smaller objectives like enemy hunts, puzzle-based encounters, or timed events give extra rewards between main activities.
Multiplayer
Forming fireteams is fast: matchmaking usually takes seconds, and the game auto-fills with bots if necessary. This keeps the flow going, especially for casual mobile sessions.
On top of that, Destiny Rising already supports cross-play between iOS and Android, so you can play with friends regardless of device (though no cross-server play yet).
Gacha Explained
Since Destiny Rising is a free-to-play mobile title, it follows the gacha model that’s common in big mobile RPGs. This is probably the biggest change compared to Destiny 2, and it’s where opinions are split among fans.
Summoning System
Lightbearers & Relics are obtained through a banner-based gacha.
There are two banner types:
- Standard Banners: permanent pool of characters and weapons.
- Limited Banners: event-based with exclusive Lightbearers or mythic relics.
Each pull can give you a character, weapon, or cosmetic item. Sometimes, instead of a hero, you’ll get ornaments, decals, or sparrow skins, which can feel disappointing if you’re aiming for a Lightbearer.
Drop Rates
A mythic rarity Lightbearer is guaranteed within 60 pulls.
Beta versions included an extra safety net: first 30 summons guaranteed a mythic, and at 180 pulls you could choose one mythic of your preference.
Currencies in Destiny Rising
- Bonvoyage Charms: the main summon currency, earned slowly in-game and available via events.
- Silver: premium paid currency, used for cosmetics and special banners.
- Glimmer, Legendary Shards, Lumia Leaves: tied to upgrading gear and Lightbearers.
Final Thoughts
Destiny Rising stands out because it mixes fast, responsive combat with a hero-based system. Lightbearers, Haven, and the blend of PvE, PvP, and events give the game enough depth to keep players engaged long term. It’s a full mobile RPG-shooter experience built around teamplay, progression, and unique character kits. For anyone looking for a new sci-fi action game to invest time into, Destiny Rising feels like it has the right mix of structure and freedom.
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