The release of the update milestone 1.1.4 for Destiny 2 is getting closer. While it brings many changes, many core issues of the game remain unaddressed. These 5 things urgently need to change for Destiny 2 to have a chance.
The update 1.1.4 is just a few days away. This roadmap milestone represents the most extensive update yet for Bungie’s latest Destiny installment. However, even the numerous changes will leave most core issues of the game unaddressed. Although Bungie is trying to screw many things, for many Guardians, they are the absolutely wrong ones. The studio is largely working past the community.
With update 1.2.0, which is expected hand in hand with the 2nd expansion in May 2018, it looks no different. Although the currently last communicated milestone from Bungie’s emergency plan will make some adjustments to the troubled game, substantial changes will also be in vain here. A turnaround during this period is also unlikely.
Bungie is now backed against the wall and has likely finally recognized the problem in this self-inflicted situation and seems willing to tackle it consistently. With a job posting, the studio signaled that it wants to involve the community more closely in the optimization process for Destiny 2 in the near future. Bright minds from among the players hopefully will soon have the chance to steer the second installment of the series back on the right track in cooperation with Bungie. Many are now hoping for a turnaround like in The Division.
The Guardian community has already communicated its concerns and improvement requests multiple times. It is already clear – The following 5 things urgently need to change and therefore will most likely be on the list of any potential candidate:
The Sandbox
Although the upcoming update 1.1.4 will change the sandbox on a large scale, it remains one of the biggest problem areas of the game.
Already during the beta, Destiny 2 could not match the feeling of the popular predecessor. Unfortunately, that has not really changed to this day. The game looks like Destiny, the game sounds like Destiny, but to the dismay of many Guardians, it plays noticeably differently. Too differently.
While the upcoming patch will specifically address some of these issues, such as the movement speed of the Guardians, other concerns remain.
The widely demanded reduction of TTK, which is responsible for a large part of the problems in the Crucible, is not taking place, for example. Instead, Bungie has turned various other screws without being asked, which could now lead to new problems in PvP.
The charge times of abilities are not buffed in the true sense, but still remain heavily mod-dependent. The mods themselves are also set to undergo a general overhaul. How this system will be played out ultimately cannot even be guessed at the moment.
There will initially be no changes to the customization options of the individual Guardian classes. The focus selection remains rudimentary.
Whether and to what extent Destiny 2 can approach the original Destiny feeling in the course of the remaining updates remains to be seen.
The Weapon Slots
Considering the current weapon system of Destiny 2, it quickly becomes clear – the current constellation of weapon slots does not work as intended and simply isn’t fun. A problem that was already hinted at before the game’s release and has now developed into one of the biggest plagues of Destiny 2. The clear orientation of the game in favor of PvP is now demanding its toll.
Entire weapon classes have completely lost their reason for existence due to this realignment. And even though some buffs are coming, not much will really change here for the time being. A rocket launcher will still be a better choice than a shotgun, fusion rifle, or sniper – both in PvP and PvE.
Comprehensive changes can be expected in the context of the next major expansion, which is expected in autumn 2018. But even that is pure speculation – official information remains scarce. So there are no quick solutions in sight here either, even though they are sorely needed.
The Loot
The current loot in Destiny 2 is unattractive and boring – the situation cannot be described any other way. For example, the game suffers massively from the fixed rolls of weapons. Already after a short playing period, players lack any incentive to continue investing time in the game. The hunt for weapon god rolls or perfect stat perk combinations in armor pieces, which kept many players entertained during content droughts in the predecessor, is completely absent. It is unlikely that anything will change in the foreseeable future.
Masterwork weapons and armor also cannot really solve the problem. While Bungie is currently reworking a large part of the exotics to make them more exciting and rewarding, the exotic items only represent a small part of the overall gear and will not be able to solve the problem on their own.
The March update will bring fresh Nightfall-specific loot into the game, but if these should also have static perks, which can be assumed, these rewards will not contribute to a sustainable solution to the problem.
Deep changes would also be possible here, at the earliest in autumn.
Secrets and Collectibles
Cool secrets – no matter how small – or hidden quests like in the predecessor are sadly missing in Destiny 2. Many Guardians will still remember their hunt for the Sleeper Simulant, the Outbreak Prime, or the Black Spindle – especially the memorable moment when they could finally call these weapons their own. Unfortunately, the second part cannot capitalize on such experiences.
Also, the hunt for Dead Ghosts or similar collectibles, which provided many players a welcome pastime during times of content drought, are sorely missed in Destiny 2.
While Bungie has promised to integrate both secrets in the style of Destiny 1 and collectibles into the game, they were vague in these statements – a specific timeline for these features is not yet established.
The Lore
The lore in Destiny 2 has a fundamental problem.
Parts of the community warned before the release that it could undermine the lore surrounding the Destiny universe if the grimoire system were completely discarded. And they were right.
Yes, the adventures play well and are largely interesting, the scanable objects often provide exciting background information about the story, characters, and locations around Destiny 2. However, none of this can be reread or viewed anywhere. Not even for long on bungie.net, where at least the grimoire cards could be viewed.
There is no encyclopedia, no journal, no collection of objects and background information in the game that you have already found to read or view them again at a later time if you wish. There are also no clues as to where exactly to search for these objects should you feel the desire to listen to the recordings again because you may have been more focused on shooting than listening the first time.
Connecting complex storylines and better understanding new insights is ironically no longer as easy as it was in Destiny 1 – even though you had to rely on external means back then, while Bungie in the case of Destiny 2 itself relies on external means like the comic “Fall of Osiris,” because it seems that it is not easily possible to do justice to such a complex and extensive universe solely in-game in an adequate manner.
Furthermore, the undertaking of adventures and the search for scannable objects are not necessarily tied to the progression system in the game and can essentially be completely ignored.
This leaves a lot of potential background knowledge hidden for many – knowledge that could have been easily accessed through grimoire cards in the first part whenever needed, even if you brushed through the story with a knife between your teeth.
Moreover, players are missing worthwhile incentives such as grimoire points, progress rewards from a record book, or special quests that encourage them to dive deeper into the story of the game than necessary during the initial run of the campaign and thereby actively pursue specific activities.
Bungie still has great need for improvement here.
What do you think? Are these the most pressing issues of Destiny 2? Or are there other things on your priority list?
Destiny 2 is a multiplayer online loot shooter with MMO elements developed by Bungie. It was released on September 6, 2017, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and ...
