Destiny Rising is entering the holidays with its biggest content update yet. NetEase Games has officially launched Season 3 Act 1, bringing a steady rollout of new activities, a classic Destiny raid, and a free Mythic character designed to keep players engaged through the end of the year and into early January.
The update, which began rolling out on December 17, introduces multiple content beats rather than a single drop. That cadence reflects NetEase’s live-ops approach for the licensed, cross-platform sci-fi RPG shooter, gradually layering in familiar franchise moments alongside new gameplay experiments.
Destiny Rising is a mobile free-to-play, live-service sci-fi RPG shooter developed and published by NetEase Games under license from Bungie. Launched globally earlier this year for Android and iOS, it places players in a shared world set in an alternate timeline of the Destiny universe where they collect and command unique Lightbearers in cooperative and competitive PvE and PvP activities. The title blends traditional Destiny gunplay with mobile-friendly mechanics and a gacha-style progression system.
New in Season 3 Act 1
The headline addition for this update arrives January 3 with the return of Crota’s End, one of the most iconic raids in the Destiny franchise. Originally introduced in Destiny and later reimagined in Destiny 2, the lunar raid challenges players to confront Crota, one of the series’ earliest god-tier enemies. In Destiny Rising, the encounter has been adapted for the game’s structure, with players who complete the raid earning an exclusive clearance reward.
Season 3 Act 1 also introduces a notable gameplay departure for the franchise with Bulwark Ops, a new tower defense-inspired mode launching December 30. The mode supports both solo play and three-player co-op once unlocked through in-game objectives. Players must survive up to 30 waves of enemies by combining traditional shooter combat with strategic tower placement, earning points by defeating enemies, and reinvesting those resources into defensive structures.
Each battlefield features different environmental layouts, pushing players to adapt tower placement and loadouts based on terrain and enemy behavior. Towers can be upgraded over the course of a run, adding a layer of progression and tactical decision-making that differentiates Bulwark Ops from the franchise’s more familiar PvE activities.
Alongside new modes and raid content, NetEase is also using Season 3 Act 1 as an opportunity to reward players directly. Kabr, the Resolute, a Mythic Arc character rooted in Destiny lore, is being made available for free.
The inclusion of Kabr is a clear nod to long-time Destiny fans. As a figure tied to the Vault of Glass and early Guardian mythology, the character reinforces Destiny Rising’s strategy of blending recognizable franchise history with a new format tailored for mobile and cross-platform audiences.
The update is accompanied by a new trailer highlighting the seasonal roadmap and upcoming content drops. More details on future Season 3 acts are expected in the coming weeks as the holiday rollout continues.
Season 3 Act 1 continues NetEase’s broader effort to position Destiny Rising as more than a simplified spin-off. By bringing back major franchise touchstones like Crota’s End while also experimenting with modes like Bulwark Ops, the game aims to appeal to both veterans looking for familiar moments and new players seeking bite-sized, session-friendly content.