Hi! I’m thrilled to welcome you to Duskfade, a fast-paced, nostalgic action-platformer from the talented indie team at Weird Beluga Studio, coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

Duskfade sees players setting off on a journey to restore time to a world seized in eternal night, playing as young apprentice Zirian on an adventure across a wondrous clockpunk world. If you grew up playing action-platformers in the early 2000s (just like I did!), Duskfade is being made for you, expertly blending the best of classic design with modern mechanics to deliver an emotional story that leaves a lasting impact.

Take a look at our brand new trailer – and welcome to the world of Duskfade.

A Tribute to Classic Action-Platformers

There’s something truly special about the golden era of action-platformers – the tight controls, iconic characters, fluid movement, and the sense of joy, discovery and reward in every level. Duskfade captures that magic with fast, responsive traversal, satisfying combat, and a world that feels like a forgotten classic, reimagined for today.

At its core, Duskfade is built on the DNA of beloved titles from the past, but pushes forward with modern refinements. Whether you’re dashing between floating islands, rail-grinding through a crystal mine shaft, or fending off clockwork foes, the game is designed to feel intuitive, dynamic, and full of momentum.

Duskfade’s world is built on old watchmaking knowledge, where magic blends with gears and clocks,” says Diego Redondo González, Lead Artist on Duskfade. “Players can expect a wide range of dynamic, magical worlds full of surprises, with a colourful and imaginative art style that mixes innocent, stylized visuals with a few darker touches.”

Duskfade strikes a careful balance between accessibility and depth, offering a difficulty curve that welcomes newcomers while still challenging seasoned players. The game’s platforming encourages exploration at your own pace, letting players fully take in the beauty and mystery of each world. Combat is easy to grasp but hard to master, designed to be both challenging and fun, with mechanics that reward timing, skill, and strategy. As players progress, they’ll unlock new abilities and gadgets that not only deepen combat but also open new ways to explore, encouraging discovery in every corner of the game.

“Our movement system is built around speed, agility, and flow,” says Tomás Manzano Sobrido, Duskfade’s Lead Programmer. “We want players to feel like Zirian is gliding through the world – chaining actions effortlessly, moving with momentum, and covering large distances in a way that feels smooth and dynamic.”

Esteban Marín Illana, Game Designer on Duskfade, adds: We want Duskfade to strike a balance that makes it accessible for newcomers, but with enough depth to keep experienced players engaged. The platforming lets you explore at your own pace, while the combat is simple to learn but offers real challenge as you progress. With new abilities and gadgets unlocking over time, the experience keeps evolving and rewarding curiosity.”

A Personal Story About Loss and Letting Go

Beneath its vibrant visuals and exhilarating gameplay, Duskfade tells a deeply personal story. The game follows siblings Zirian and Allira, who find themselves trapped in a mysterious reality shaped by memory and grief.

The story is shaped by Narrative Designer Ricardo Chorques Mesa’s experience of a deeply personal loss, which became the heart of exploring the many ways that people deal with grief and loss.

“Losing someone you love, especially a guide and role model, leaves a lasting wound. That’s what I experienced with the loss of my grandfather,” Mesa tells us. “But in that grief, I found the strength and inspiration to write this story. Overcoming the absence of a loved one is not about forgetting; it’s about learning to walk accompanied by their memory.”

A Game That Hits Both Heart and Memory

Nostalgia is powerful: it isn’t just about the games we played, but about the feelings we had while playing them. Duskfade taps into that magic, not only with its gameplay, but with its story about the memories that have shaped us over the years.

For players who grew up with action-platformers, we want Duskfade to feel like home. For those experiencing the genre for the first time, it’s a fresh, modern adventure. Either way, it’s a journey that you won’t forget.

We hope this brief introduction has given you a closer look at what to expect from this wondrous new action-platformer, and we can’t wait for you to experience Duskfade for yourself when it launches on Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

Episode Heresy – Act III arrived in Destiny 2 last week, the final instalment of the three-part series continuing the story of Destiny 2 following the events of The Final Shape. One activity that Guardians will encounter this season is a revival of a classic mission from the original Destiny.

The Sunless Cell is a strike that first appeared as part of The Taken King expansion for the original Destiny, almost a decade ago. Of course, a lot has changed in terms of Destiny 2’s narrative and technological scopes – this content must stay true to its gameplay roots while also working in the modern sandbox of Destiny 2. Thankfully, this is a dance that Bungie has done many times now, and the studio is now a dab hand at the art of bringing back past content back and ensuring that it stands tall as a compelling addition to Destiny 2’s current storyline.

But what exactly goes into this process? Destiny 2 Design Lead Baldur Tangvald and Designer J. Valencia spoke to Wire to give us a look at the decision-making behind the revivals, choosing the right content from over ten years of story, and how to make it work for both old and new fans alike.

“First we start by looking at aspects that make the strike unique or memorable, any standout moments or encounters, and how the strike flows,” Valencia explains. “Then we take the skeleton of the original strike and update encounters and mechanics to fit Destiny 2’s current sandbox experience, which allows for higher combatant density and new enemy types, while keeping the experience of the original.”

Old Ground, New Tricks

Episode Heresy revolves heavily around the Hive – an ancient race in Destiny’s universe that spawned many of its antagonists and enemy types. One major location is the Dreadnaught, a sprawling area crawling with Hive, which also serves as the setting for Heresy’s ongoing The Nether activity as well as the original unless Cell strike. “Heresy’s heavy focus on the Hive within the Dreadnaught made this strike seem like a particularly good inclusion to serve as a beat in the story,” Valencia added. “Early on in development we wanted to maximize the amount of space we could incorporate into The Nether activity with our efforts to update the Dreadnaught. The Founts area near the start of the strike had good space for combat and plenty of nooks and crannies required for The Nether, so we felt it was a good opportunity to expand on Heresy’s arena activity, tell a stronger story, and inject some freshness into the strike playlist all at once.”

A Fan Favorite

The original Sunless Cell strike was a firm favourite among Destiny’s earliest players, and while it now feels simpler than a lot of modern Destiny 2 strikes, some of its combat beats still feel unique and memorable today. In the original version, the boss fight against Alak-Hul, The Darkblade took place in total darkness, and as Tangvald recalls, “created a hectic cat-and-mouse game with the boss that felt different and refreshing.”

“The glow of Cursed Thrall heads and little Hive crystals in the pitch-black space gave it an extra cool vibe,” he adds. “This unusual environmental element made for an interesting new set of combat pressures and challenges, and it very effectively communicated a sense of fear and danger. It’s a knife fight in a dark closet, and there wasn’t another strike boss quite like it.”

Bungie’s goal with the reprised version of the strike was to not only bring it in line with the modern Destiny 2 player experience, but also to weave in some of the new Hive variants that have been introduced to the narrative. The strike’s original boss, Alak-Hul has been replaced by a powerful new Darkblade working alongside the mysterious Taken. Instead, Guardians must take down a powerful new Darkblade.

“Sunless Cell’s boss fight is one of its most unique parts, making the Guardian feel hunted by Alak-Hul in the darkness,” Valenica says. “And although that feeling is still there in this reprise, the Guardians must now also contend with the Taken enemies inside the cell and prevent this new adversary from being Taken itself.”

“While the story surrounding the Guardians infiltrating the Sunless Cell has been updated to match the story and fit into the narrative for Heresy, I feel like the structure of the strike is still faithful to the original while throwing in a couple of surprises and making it challenging for today’s sandbox.”

What’s more, Destiny’s decade-long tenure means that, in some cases, those who started out as fans of the game are now actively working on it themselves, with a hand in reinventing and reinvigorating their own fan-favorite moments for other players to experience for the second, or even first time.

“About ten years ago I was singing praises for this particular strike during my [interviews to join Bungie],” Tangvald tells us. “We’re all excited to have it back, have strived to honor it and embrace its unique elements, and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do!”

Destiny 2: Heresy is available now, play it on for free on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Destiny 2

Bungie

☆☆☆☆☆
2003

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.

AN IMMERSIVE STORY
You are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.

GUARDIAN CLASSES
Choose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
• Disciplined and proud, Titans are capable of both aggressive assaults and stalwart defenses. Set your hammer ablaze, crack the sky with lightning, and go toe-to-toe with any opponent. Your team will stand tall behind the strength of your shield.
• Warlocks weaponize the mysteries of the universe to sustain themselves and destroy their foes. Rain devastation on the battlefield and clear hordes of enemies in the blink of an eye. Those who stand with you will know the true power of the Light.
• Agile and daring, Hunters are quick on their feet and quicker on the draw. Fan the hammer of your golden gun, flow through enemies like the wind, or strike from the darkness. Find the enemy, take aim, and end the fight before it starts.

COOPERATIVE AND COMPETITIVE MULTIPLAYER
Play with or against your friends and other Guardians in various PvE and PvP game modes.
• Exciting co-op adventures teeming await with rare and powerful rewards. Dive into the story with missions, quests, and patrols. Put together a small fireteam and secure the chest at the end of a quick Strike. Or test your team’s skill with countless hours of raid progression – the ultimate challenge for any fireteam. You decide where your legend begins.
• Face off against other players in fast-paced free-for-all skirmishes, team arenas, and PvE/PvP hybrid competitions. Mark special competitions like Iron Banner on your calendar and collect limited-time rewards before they’re gone.

EXOTIC WEAPONS AND ARMOR
Thousands of weapons, millions of options. Discover new gear combinations and define your own personal style. The hunt for the perfect arsenal begins.

105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase.

Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them.

Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla.

© 2023 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, the Destiny Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.