No official launch has taken place just yet, but for all intents and purposes, "Destiny 2" is a real game and rumors are hinting that it will be quite different from its predecessor.

For much of the year, there really wasn't a lot known about the sequel. Gamers who had been following the news knew that it was being made, but they, for the most part, had no idea what was planned for it.

Things changed in late September, as that was when plenty of details about the sequel suddenly came pouring out.

Gamers likely already know about the big rumor that the sequel will be released for the PC and also leaves behind the PS3 and Xbox 360, and that significant move could have some major implications going forward.

In a lengthy NeoGAF post, noted insider "Shinobi602" mentioned that major game engine changes are in the works, and these apparently are changes that would not have been possible if "Destiny 2" was still set to be released for last-gen consoles.

The rumored engine upgrade could mean that visual improvements will be applied

Beyond the technical upgrades, the sequel is also expected to build on the content already inside the original game.

New enemies, factions and races are reportedly set to be introduced and developers may not even have to look far when seeking creative inspiration as they are making these additions.

As Mobipicker pointed out, the original game already possesses plenty of stories that need to be told hidden within numerous items. Developers could just opt to bring those stories to life and immediately populate the sequel with content that fans will likely be glad to see.

Unfortunately, these are all still just rumors at this point as both Bungie and Activision have yet to announce anything specific other than that the game is set to be released next year.

Still, more details about "Destiny 2" are expected to start coming out sooner rather than later, so fans of the franchise should probably prepare for what will likely be a very eventful 2017.