BELLEVUE, Washington — Bungie has postponed the Destiny 2 Shadow and Order update by three months, shifting its launch from March 3, 2026, to June 9, 2026. The developer shared the news in a statement on its social media channels Tuesday.

The delay comes amid preparations for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, set for March 5, 2026. Players had anticipated Shadow and Order just days before Marathon’s debut, following the game’s server slam test from February 26 to March 2. Sparse marketing for the update had already fueled speculation of a postponement.

Bungie’s statement detailed the scope of changes. “Our next Major Update, Destiny 2: Shadow and Order, is undergoing large revisions and will be delayed,” the studio wrote. “This update is being changed and expanded to include sizable quality-of-life updates and as a result, will also be renamed.”

New features include Weapon Tier Upgrading, expansion of Tiered Gear to all Raid and Dungeon activities, Pantheon 2.0, and Tier 5 stats for Exotic Armors. Bungie promised more specifics closer to release.

Through June, players can expect routine bug fixes, stability improvements, portal modifiers, Guardian Games in March, and a more frequent Iron Banner schedule in April, according to the statement.

The timing raises eyebrows. Shadow and Order was positioned as a major update, not a full expansion like the recent Star Wars-themed Renegades tree, which struggled to boost player numbers. Announcing sweeping revisions weeks from launch suggests deeper issues in development.

Bungie faces pressure to steady Destiny 2’s trajectory. Positive signals around Marathon had offered hope, but this setback tempers enthusiasm. Fans now await details on whether the overhaul delivers meaningful gains.

The studio emphasized ongoing support for the live game during the wait. Iron Banner’s accelerated cadence in April aims to keep engagement high. Still, the compressed timeline between updates and Marathon’s arrival had promised a busy period for the community.

Destiny 2 remains a cornerstone for Bungie since its 2017 launch. Recent updates have grappled with retaining players amid competition from titles like Helldivers 2 and content droughts. Shadow and Order’s revisions could address long-standing gripes over gear progression and endgame challenges.

Bungie plans to reveal full patch notes nearer June 9. The community response online mixes frustration with cautious optimism, particularly around quality-of-life tweaks like Exotic Armor stats.