When people ask me what my favourite games are, I usually give the same three answers: Diablo, MapleStory, and Destiny.

At first glance, they seem pretty different. Diablo is a top-down, isometric action game with dark, gritty visuals. MapleStory is a 2D platformer with bright colours, anime-style characters, and adorable monsters. And Destiny is a first-person shooter set in a sci-fi world full of aliens and space-age tech.

Visually, they couldn’t be more different. But what they all have in common is that action RPG core — and that same addictive grind that keeps me coming back.

In this post, we’re taking a closer look at Destiny: Rising, the upcoming mobile entry in the Destiny franchise.

What is Destiny: Rising?

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I didn’t even know Destiny: Rising existed until recently. I actually stumbled across it while I was making an unrelated YouTube video — it popped up in the App Store under the Coming Soon section in the Games tab.

It is being described as the first mobile game in the franchise — a sci-fi shooter with robust weapons customization, legendary heroes, party features, unique maps, and, most importantly for me: controller support.

From the screenshots, it looks like Destiny — the perspective, the HUD, the enemies, the environments — it all feels familiar, which is a good sign. That said, I watched some early access gameplay recently, and the detail in those clips looked far lower than what we’re seeing in the promo shots on the App Store. It’s got me a little concerned, but to be fair, it is early access and things could still change.

As for the story, here’s how the devs describe it:

“As a genesis of new possibilities in the Destiny Universe, Destiny: Rising delves into an unseen era where burgeoning hope blooms once again after a terrifying collapse of civilization and the dangers of the resulting Dark Age. With the help of legendary Iron Lords, humanity has broken free of the shackles of tyranny and begun to rally together against the alien forces intent on its extinction. Amidst the chaos of this early age for The City, a new generation of Lightbearers, resurrected by mysterious entities known as Ghosts, set out to restore humanity’s prominence and secure its future.”

What Devices Support Destiny: Rising?

If we scroll down to the Information section at the bottom of the Destiny: Rising App Store page, we see it’s listed as compatible with iPhone, iPad, and even iPod running iOS 11 or later. Now, this could change as we get closer to release — but assuming it doesn’t, the fact that iPod is listed is a bit concerning.

The last iPod touch came out in 2019. It had an A10 Fusion chip and 2 GB of Memory — basically the same as an iPhone 7, which is almost 10 years old. There’s just no way a device like that can handle what most of us would expect from a modern AAA mobile game — at least not without major compromises. And that’s the big question: what would have to be sacrificed to make Destiny: Rising playable on something that old?

More likely, this is just an App Store listing error; or, rather, what is theoretically compatible, but not practically so. The Closed Alpha FAQ on the Destiny: Rising website actually recommends an iPhone 8 or newer, and iPod isn’t mentioned at all in their recommended specs .

Still, an iPhone 8 is itself about eight years old and nowhere near as capable as today’s devices. It makes me wonder: why aim for such old hardware at all? Devices from iPhone 11 onward make up over 70% of iPhones in use worldwide. I just hope trying to support older models doesn’t hold back the game’s depth or performance on newer devices. Graphics settings better be included — and robust — because I want to take full advantage of the M4 chip in my iPad Pro!

It’s also a little odd that there’s no mention of Mac or Apple TV support — something I think a lot of us would have appreciated, for higher performance PC play, or on the couch play. 

How will Destiny: Rising be Monetized?

Also under the Information section on the App Store, we get a pretty clear idea of how Destiny: Rising will be monetized. It mentions launch bundles, battle passes, loot boxes, and in-game currencies — so it’s safe to assume this will be a free-to-play game, probably similar to Diablo Immortal, where the real revenue comes from these add-ons.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with that — as long as all the content in the game is playable. I’m someone who plays solo and just for fun, so whether or not in-app purchases give players a power boost doesn’t really bother me. That said, I get why it’s a concern for a lot of people — especially for those who care about balance or competitive play. 

What Type of Gameplay is in Destiny: Rising?

Looking at the App Store description, there are a few interesting details about the gameplay. First off, it says the game will be playable in both first-person and third-person. That’s actually a big change compared to Destiny on console and PC, where third-person is really only used for certain weapons or specific moments, and you can’t just toggle between views. Personally, I prefer first-person play.

It also says we’re entering an “era of heroes and legends,” and that each character comes with a rich personal story. What that tells me is: we won’t be making our own characters from scratch. Instead, we’ll choose from a lineup of pre-made heroes. That means less customization and personalization overall. Sure, the game will have character progression and immersive storytelling, so technically it checks the boxes for being a role-playing game. But for me, this doesn’t really feel like a true action RPG — and that’s probably the most disappointing detail so far.

On the bright side, it looks like Destiny: Rising will include several game modes for both solo and party play — campaign missions, co-op strikes with matchmaking, and new PvE and PvP modes. For me, it’s the campaign missions and those co-op strikes that really make Destiny fun, so I’m glad to see those returning.

And of course, we can’t talk about Destiny without mentioning the gunplay. That’s what sets it apart — that fluid, tactile, fast-paced combat. Destiny’s gunplay is hands down the best I’ve ever experienced in an FPS. For Destiny: Rising to succeed, it absolutely needs to capture that same feel. So, fingers crossed. 

Who is Developing Destiny: Rising?

Destiny: Rising is being developed by NetEase Games, in collaboration with Bungie — the studio behind the Destiny franchise. NetEase also worked with Blizzard on Diablo Immortal, and honestly, I think that’s a good sign. I know there’s a loud group online that complains about Diablo Immortal’s monetization, but personally, I think the game itself is excellent.

That said, there are already people voicing concerns about NetEase’s involvement in Destiny: Rising, mostly because of their reputation for aggressive monetization practices.

As for how the partnership actually works — NetEase has full creative control over Destiny: Rising. That means they’re handling the design, the art, the story, and the gameplay mechanics. Bungie’s role is pretty minor — they’re licensing the Destiny IP and making sure the game stays true to the brand. This collaboration actually started back in 2018, when NetEase invested over $100 million in Bungie and took a minority stake. At the time, they announced they’d be working on a new game together — and now we know that game is Destiny: Rising.

When is Destiny: Rising Releasing? 

NetEase officially announced Destiny: Rising on October 14, 2024. That said, development probably started back in 2021 or 2022, under the codename Viper — a few years after NetEase made its investment in Bungie.

A closed alpha launched in the U.S. and Canada on November 1, 2024. Then, from May to June 2025, they ran a closed beta, which they called early access. So far, there’s been no announcement about a public alpha or beta, but the full launch is expected this fall. The App Store even lists a tentative release date of August 31, though that hasn’t been officially confirmed.

If you’re interested, the official Destiny: Rising website lets you pre-register for updates and to show your interest in any future tests — assuming there are any before launch. They’re also offering pre-registration rewards, unlocked at milestones like 500,000, 1 million, 2 million, 5 million, and 10 million sign-ups. Right now, over 3 million players have already pre-registered.

Closing Remarks 

Beyond the gunplay, what makes me think so fondly of Destiny are the memories. When the original game launched, I’d spend hours playing with my co-workers. Back then, Destiny had this massive community — people racing to clear new raids first, piecing together the lore, and chasing the best weapons. For us, it was just about having fun together.

Two memories really stand out. The first was when we finally earned the achievement for completing a raid without a single death — probably the hardest one at the time. We did it on Crota after weeks of trying. But what I really remember is what came next: we tried to get the achievement for a co-worker who missed out. We were so close — just waiting for Crota to become vulnerable — when suddenly, out of nowhere, we hear a boom, and the game announces someone in our party died. Dead silence. Then, over chat, the co-worker we were trying to help says, “Sorry guys, I accidentally shot a rocket at my feet.” We were frustrated beyond belief at the time… but now? I just laugh about it.

The other memory was soloing the Crota raid using some of the early glitches. It shouldn’t have been possible, but after tons of tries, I pulled it off. I even recorded it — though who knows where that video is now. But in that moment, I felt amazing.

These kinds of moments are why Diablo, MapleStory, and Destiny are always my top three games. And now with Destiny: Rising on the way, it feels like that trio is complete on mobile. Diablo and MapleStory are already there, and I’ve wanted Destiny on mobile or Mac for so long. I really liked what Blizzard and NetEase did with Diablo Immortal, so here’s hoping Destiny: Rising lives up to that — or better.