The community of Destiny 2 has given a lot of thought about the future of the game and its current direction. Rumors about a possible end due to bad sentiment and player numbers, as well as the developer’s focus on new projects, for which they allegedly plan to exploit the shooter until the very last ember, have circulated. In a new interview, Game Director Joe Blackburn clarified a few things about this.
The essentials at a glance:
- In an interview with Game Director Joe Blackburn, it was clarified that Destiny 2 is not at an end, despite rumors and concerns.
- Bungie continues to focus on the future of Destiny 2 and is working on the development of story elements.
- The player numbers have increased, especially with new players benefiting from the Guardian rank system.
What interview is this about? “The Final Shape” will officially mark the end of the first Destiny 2 saga of light and darkness. However, contrary to some claims, Bungie is also already preparing for the future of Destiny 2.
To find out what this future looks like, Tom Warren from “The Verge” sat down for an interview with Game Director Joe Blackburn. This clarified a lot of things.
- Destiny 2 is by no means at an end. Rather, it is at a turning point.
- Speculation that Bungie would focus on new games is a misunderstanding.
- They have realized that they need to change the PvP strategy and make compromises.
- Regarding player numbers, Blackburn also expressed optimism and revealed a little Lightfall success story.
MyMMO summarizes the most important points from the interview for you, while you get a visual preview of the future in this video:
Bungie addresses fan concerns
Destiny 2 will not disappear after 2025: It is no secret that “The Final Shape” is the official designation for the end of the first Destiny 2 saga of light and darkness and will mark a significant conclusion.
However, contrary to some assumptions, Destiny 2 is far from over. The game is more at a turning point, where Bungie uses its long experience to shape and optimize the future of its loot shooter.
The assumption that Bungie has been focusing on new games since the acquisition by Sony and neglecting Destiny 2 is, according to Blackburn, a misunderstanding. The studio continues to place great importance on the Destiny universe and remains committed to improving and expanding the player experience.
What we are trying to avoid is scaring people that Destiny 2 is disappearing. It is not. Our support for it is not ending. We are just trying to focus on what is ahead of us and not extend the conversation to the next two years.
explained Joe Blackburn
This suggests that the studio is likely still working on the future development of story elements in Destiny 2, aside from the current focus on “The Final Shape” and the upcoming year.
New Guardian generation is a growing community
More and more New Lights find their fate: In terms of player numbers, Blackburn is also optimistic and even revealed a little success story from the current DLC “Lightfall”.
One of our little success stories from Lightfall… the players we have gained in the last year are more loyal to Destiny than ever before.
revealed the Game Director
This is attributed to the success of the Guardian rank system. It helps new players to navigate the Destiny experience optimally and complete activities to improve their character.
While veterans of Destiny 1 and 2 seem to no longer find much joy in the loot shooter and have become major critics and disappointed fans, it now seems to be the newcomers who still choose Destiny 2 despite everything.
Like the first Destiny players, they roam the vast universe with remarkable engagement and passion, experiencing all its content.
Entry barriers are being removed further: The development in Destiny 2 shows that Bungie’s efforts to expand the player base to the next generation of gamers have apparently borne fruit. And so, more and more entry barriers for this player group are being lifted:
- Bungie introduced the timeline feature in Season 22, allowing players to experience important plot points and events from Destiny’s past.
- The new fireteam power level system will give you access to most activities in the game, even if you don’t have the right strength.
- From Season 23, a LFG system will come, and according to Blackburn, “The Final Shape” will be a more solo-friendly experience than ever before.
But they have also designed the end of the saga so that every Destiny 2 player, regardless of their previous progress, can return. Furthermore, Bungie still values its veterans.
What about the future of PvP?
After neglecting the PvP community in Destiny 2 for far too long, Bungie rowed back on this issue in mid-August.
We know that the strategy we have pursued in the last two years for PvP has not worked. Let’s bring in a strategy change here. This will require resources from other parts of the game, but we feel that this is important now. We will make this compromise in some way, but it is not a compromise we take lightly. It is definitely a change that is necessary internally and externally.
explained Joe Blackburn the late insight
- Bungie is currently forming a PvP task force to take a look at the many issues that exist in the PvP area of the game.
- They will actively communicate with the PvP community and address issues, becoming more transparent with players regarding the PvP topic.
No shortage of PvP developers in Destiny 2
Bungie is a team that works together as a whole: What Joe Blackburn clarified in this context is the fact that they did not pull all the PvP talent from Destiny 2 to create Marathon, Bungie’s extraction shooter. However, this has been repeatedly asserted by players in recent weeks.
It is true that former PvP developers like Kevin Yanes (Senior Design Lead) have moved to Marathon. However, this should not be a disadvantage for Destiny.
If we have resources and minds we can put on a problem, there is nothing we shy away from. We also have some professionals with long experience […] while some of these people are doing great things that are necessary for the future of the company, no one is afraid to go to them and say: Hey, could you come over and try this? Can you help us with this [in Destiny 2]? There are no 3-meter high walls at Bungie where we don’t share or support this talent.
clarified Joe Blackburn about the way of working at Bungie
The interview may have cleared up some speculations and uncertainties currently being discussed in the community. And it can be concluded: For Bungie, Destiny 2 remains a firm part of the gaming landscape and will continue to be supported and developed to engage both new Guardians and veterans. The latter, however, only if they want to be engaged at all.
Do you find Bungie’s focus on the care and development of Destiny 2 after 2025 convincing, while taking on new projects at the same time? Feel free to comment on what you think about it.
Or do you prefer to focus on things that are fun? Like this:
Destiny 2: New aspect from Season 22 is absurdly strong, making you an almost indestructible ghost
