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Can You Play Destiny 2 Without PlayStation Plus?

Can You Play Destiny 2 Without PlayStation Plus?

Ever since Destiny 2 went Free-to-Play there have been a massive surge of players who have picked up the game. This surge reached its apex with the release of their new expansion pack called The Witch Queen. However, there are many PlayStation players who are yet confused if you can play Destiny 2 without a PlayStation Plus subscription.

The answer is kind of complicated. Yes, you can play Destiny 2 without a PlayStation Plus subscription. However, you will only be able to play the main story campaign of the base game as well as the story campaign of any Expansions that you own.

Without a PlayStation Plus subscription you will not be able to access any content that requires other players to join you or play along with you to complete the mission such as Strikes, Raids etc.

The confusion faced by PlayStation players is completely justified as Bungie is extremely obtuse about what aspects of their game are Free-To-Play and which are hidden behind secret pay walls that players have to overcome. However, we’ll explain further in this article what content precisely is available for all PlayStation players and what they’ll need to whip their wallets out for.

Related: Should I play Destiny 2?

How much of Destiny 2 can be played without PlayStation Plus?

The essential need of a PlayStation Plus subscription for Destiny players on PS4 or PS5 is if they want to play the multiplayer aspects of the game. This is a big deal considering the main allure of the game is that it is a massively multiplayer online game and depends on the content aimed at community cooperation.

However, there is still tons of content that can be played in Destiny 2 which does not require a PlayStation Plus subscription and can be accessed by players for no additional cost at all. This includes the following:

  • All Story missions in the campaign of Destiny 2’s base-game.
  • All Story missions in the campaigns of various Destiny 2 Expansions: Beyond Light, Shadowkeep and The Witch Queen
  • Planet Activities including: Adventures, Patrols, Public Events and Lost Sectors

Although Public events can be attempted solo these are usually created to be completed by a large group of players. This means that they will be incredibly difficult for you if you do not have access to PlayStation Plus.

What is inaccessible without a PlayStation Plus subscription?

If you don’t have an active PlayStation Plus subscription then that means you do not have access to the PlayStation game servers for Destiny 2 which makes matching up and playing with other players impossible. For most PlayStation players this means they will not be able to take part in several of the games most spectacular modes and content.

Content which will become inaccessible or limited to the player without a PlayStation Plus subscription includes the following:

  • Raids
  • Strikes
  • Crucible PvP
  • Gambit PvP and PvE
  • Forges
  • Reckoning
  • Menagerie
  • Vex Offensive
  • Nightmare Hunts
  • Fire teams

You might also be interested in: Are The Expansions Worth It In Destiny 2?

The Problem

As it must have become apparent through this article Destiny 2, regardless of being a Free-To-Play game, is not entirely free and requires PlayStation players get the PS Plus Subscription. This is terrible news for console players as the Steam version of Destiny 2, that you can play on PC, does not require any such additional fees. So console players seem to get the short end of the stick in this matter.

Additionally, some of the biggest competitors of Destiny 2 are games like Apex Legends, Fortnite and Warframe. These games are also Free-To-Play like Destiny 2, however, they do not require that PlayStation players get the PS Plus subscriptions in order to play them. This means that budget gamers will naturally gravitate towards titles that are lighter on their wallet.

Finally, what makes matters worse is that there is only a limited amount of Free mission content available in the free base campaign. All additional campaign missions such as those found in the Witch Queen will require buying those expansions thus placing another monetary restriction on Destiny 2 players.


Destiny 2 players on the PlayStation sadly will have to get the PS plus subscription if they want to experience everything that the game has to offer. But for those not looking for a complete experience and just want a game they can sink their time into for a while there is a lot of free content still up for grabs.

Hope you find what you’re looking for, my fellow Guardians.