Destiny 2 Lightfall release date, pre-install, and maintenance time

The Destiny 2 Lightfall release date is here and it's ready to pre-install, just in time for it to go live later, adding a new campaign, Strand Subclasses, and more. Currently, Destiny 2 is offline for the scheduled maintenance period lasting 24 hours, but it will come back online in full Lightfall mode later today. You can even pre-install the update for the game now too, but since it's near enough a full reinstall, it's a huge file on whatever platform you're playing on. Then, after Lightfall launches, Guardians have 10 days to power up to take on the new endgame Raid on day one. Here’s what you need to know about all the essential dates coming up, including the Destiny 2 Lightfall release time and how you can download the update now!

When is the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date?

Destiny 2 Lightfall releases on February 28, 2023 with the weekly reset at 5pm UTC – check out our Destiny 2 weekly reset guide for time zone details. Here are all the key Destiny 2 Lightfall dates and times you need to be aware of:

1. Destiny 2 Lightfall 24-hour maintenance period: February 27, 2023, at 5pm UTC
2. Destiny 2 Lightfall release time: February 28, 2023, at 5pm UTC
3. Destiny 2 Season of Defiance start time: February 28, 2023, at 5pm UTC
4. Destiny 2 Lightfall endgame Raid release time: March 10, 2023, at 5pm UTC

Destiny 2 Lightfall pre-install

Due to the current maintenance period, Destiny 2 is offline before Lightfall launches, so don't panic if you can't log into the game. However, you can begin pre-installing the massive Lightfall update so that you won't have to wait around for extra downloads when the servers go live later at 5pm UTC. This appears to be almost a complete reinstall of the game, so the file size is hefty - just over 100GB on Steam, Xbox Series X, and PS5 - but it will have smaller disk space usage and faster loading times. If you've got automatic downloads enabled, the Destiny 2 Lightfall update should get itself started, but otherwise follow the usual steps to start updates on your chosen platform.

Bungie has warned of some potential launch and log in issues that you should be aware of too. Xbox Series X players may not be able to log in to Destiny 2 when the game comes back online, but uninstalling some of the old DLC packs should help, as detailed in this tweet:

PS4 players that are unable to download the update need to make sure they have the correct content files. You'll essentially need to make sure you continue any downloads that are interrupted - perhaps by your internet connection dropping out - and check that you have the "Required Content" for Destiny 2 via the PlayStation Store.

Once the update has finished, you'll be able to boot up Destiny 2 to admire the swanky new Lightfall splash screen and music, but you won't be able to play the game until the servers are back online. Players should also anticipate that they probably won’t be able to log in to the game at precisely 5pm on February 28 as there will almost certainly be server issues as players flood in to play Lightfall and the new Season of Defiance. Be patient!

What Destiny 2 content is getting vaulted?

Despite Lightfall adding loads of new content to Destiny 2, its arrival does mean that much of the last year of seasonal content is going off to the Destiny Content Vault. Here’s a quick rundown of the major activities and features that will no longer be available in game after the launch of Lightfall:

• HELM Wings and vendors for relevant seasons
• Season of the Risen, Haunted, Plunder, and Seraph seasonal questlines, Triumphs, and challenges
• Vox Obscura Exotic Mission (will return in Season 22 with the Exotic Missions rotator)
• Derelict Leviathan destination
• Nightmare Containment
• Sever missions
• Ketchcrash
• Expeditions
• Hideouts
• Operation: Seraph’s Shield Exotic Mission (will return in Season 22 with the Exotic Missions rotator)
• Operation missions
• Dead Messenger Exotic Quest
• Revision Zero Exotic Quest

However, PsiOps and Heist Battlegrounds will remain, joining the Vanguard Ops playlist, and Endgame activities that arrived during recent seasons, such as the Destiny 2 Spire of the Watcher Dungeon, will not be going away either.