If there was a collaboration between a game and a popular movie franchise that’s on the list of many people, it would have been this collaboration of Destiny and Star Wars. It took a long time coming, and it finally happened. The only question that remains is the following: Does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
They can’t really deny the Star Wars influence within the Renegades expansion. I mean, even the posters or advertisements are presented in a way that a beloved fan of the community already starts to scream out that some game is copying their beloved franchise. Hold your horses, friend, this game isn’t the culprit you’re looking for. Bungie really has a collaboration with Star Wars, but they’ve had the chance to make it their own, and I truly can say that they’ve done a great job in implementing something so well-known and yet made it into something believable for their own franchise.
“The Praxic blade is a powerhouse and a joy to handle.”
The game plays out the Praxic Order (reference to the Jedi Order) against the Imperium (The Empire). The moment you see the antagonist on your screen, you will quickly think about Kylo Ren. The resemblance is fascinating and pulls you immediately into the universe they’re trying to create. From sound design to graphical representation, Bungie has done an incredible job of fitting the Star Wars-themed campaign within the Destiny universe. It really doesn’t feel cheap, no, it does feel quite qualitative. These two features alone already confirm that the crossover works, as a lot of people already knew it would. There wouldn’t be a decent Star Wars crossover if you couldn’t get your hands on a kind-of lightsaber… and yes, you can! You can even customize it to your own liking, anyhow in a way… This expansion introduces your character to the Praxic Blade, and they even do it by offering you a quest for power. The presentation of the Praxic Blade is almost equal to the lightsaber, as we all know. The light effects, the sound design, … even the ability to deflect incoming fire truly make you feel like a member of The Order, whether it’s Praxic or Jedi. The Praxic blade is a powerhouse and a joy to handle.
Not only does the story give you that Star Wars vibe that you desire, but the locations within this campaign also feel like you’re visiting outer space with that LucasArts touch. For example, Venus has a vibe that almost makes you feel like you’re in Endor, and it just works. There are plenty of planets with a twist that are almost coming out of the Star Wars Universe as we know it.
“Just like any other Destiny expansion, the core mechanics of these missions are quite the same.”
Another feature that’s being introduced is the use of Renegade Tokens. These tokens will definitely help your battle against the Imperium. These tokens give you the ability to call in airstrikes or the option to replenish your shield instantly. Which is definitely helpful, especially the shield regen because the Imperium, as smart as they are, have devices that turn off your shields, which forces you to think outside the box. The tokens also give you the option to call in tanks to massacre your opponent. Anyways, the token system helps you reform the tactics you’re using against the Imperium.
Just like any other Destiny expansion, the core mechanics of these missions are quite the same. Even though there’s a bit of a twist, like escaping with dropships from the mission, you’re mostly blowing things up and going guns blazing. It’s fun, but it’s hardly innovative. Just like the progression system that’s also being introduced. Renegades gives you access to some of the factions of the underworld. This collective has everything: Pikers, Eliksni, Vex, Psion, … All these factions want to open their goods to you, like cosmetics, gear, and Renegade abilities, but you have to do some missions/ objectives in return. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a straightforward progression system, and it definitely works, but I do believe they could have done something more with this. This progression system between the factions could have had more impact, but like the previous expansions, as a player, you hunker more towards a system that has more to it, not just expanding on a grind tree.
“You can just boot up the game, open up your wallet, and pay for a SW-themed costume.”
Talking about gear… I do have to mention that the armor sets feel left out when it comes to the Star Wars influence. The armor sets that you can gather didn’t get the same love when it comes to “converting” them into a more Star Wars-themed outfit. However, there are a few armor sets that do have this “influence,” like the Boba Fett armor, but they have put them into the Everstore. This is truly disappointing… It really is. You don’t have the feeling that the grind is worth your time… You can just boot up the game, open up your wallet, and pay for a SW-themed costume. Where is the fun in that? Of course, there are some heavily inspired SW themed outfits available in the latest dungeon, but I don’t feel like the paid outfits are in par with the grindable ones.
Conclusion:
The Destiny x Star Wars collaboration in the Renegades expansion largely lives up to the hype by successfully blending Star Wars elements into the Destiny universe without feeling cheap or out of place. Bungie clearly embraces the influence, presenting a conflict between the Praxic Order and the Imperium that strongly echoes the Jedi versus the Empire, with convincing villains, strong visual design, and immersive sound work. The standout feature is the Praxic Blade—a lightsaber-like weapon that looks, sounds, and plays exactly as fans would hope, including deflecting enemy fire.
The campaign’s locations reinforce the Star Wars atmosphere, with planets evoking classic sci-fi settings reminiscent of Endor and other iconic worlds. New Renegade Tokens add tactical depth by allowing players to call in airstrikes, tanks, or instantly restore shields, encouraging more strategic combat—especially against enemies that can disable defenses.
However, while the expansion is fun, its core gameplay and progression systems remain familiar and somewhat unambitious. Mission structure and faction progression follow Destiny’s standard grind, missing an opportunity for deeper innovation. The biggest disappointment lies in the gear: most armor sets lack strong Star Wars inspiration, while the best themed outfits are locked behind microtransactions in the Everstore, undermining the reward of grinding. Overall, Renegades delivers an enjoyable and high-quality crossover, but falls short in innovation and meaningful cosmetic rewards.
