In Destiny 2, Bungie provides insights into the split from Activision. They were not a tyrannical boss that never allowed them to do anything cool. However, things will be different now, with Bungie as an independent studio.
Who is speaking? It is the man with the unwavering style in clothing and fashion himself: The Communications Director, David “DeeJ” Deague, is in conversation with Eurogamer.
What changes at Bungie: Bungie is doing a lot of things differently in Destiny 2 than they have in the past 5 years:
- The base game and Year 1 DLC will be “Free2Play”
- Cross-Save is also live
- and it will no longer be necessary to purchase all previous DLCs and expansions if you only want to play the “latest expansion”.
A new era has begun for Destiny 2.
Would these changes have been possible if Activision had remained at the helm?
This is what DeeJ says about Activision:
“I don’t know. But I think we need to clear up the notion that Activision was a overlord that forbade us from doing great things.”
They started the franchise with Activision and over time decided to pursue different objectives, thus they separated. But it was amicable, says DeeJ.
Bungie will now do everything themselves
How will it continue without help? With Activision, Bungie loses the two support studios Vicarious Visions and Highmoon Studios. How will it go on with this loss?
DeeJ says:
“By doing everything ourselves. We are committed to all the things we are currently doing: Shadowkeep, the new season, the three seasons afterwards, the Moments of Triumph and the Solstice of Heroes.”
All of this Bungie is now doing themselves – there is nothing more to say about it.
Bungie wants new players
Why the new direction? DeeJ says the new idea in Destiny 2 with Free2Play and being able to join without owning previous content is something they have wanted for a long time.
In 2018, they said at gamescom: “It’s a great time to get started. You only need to buy this and that, and then you have the right to buy this.”
It has been difficult for “new people” who wanted to catch up when Destiny 2 had such hurdles due to business interests.
Now they are opening the door and saying: “Come in, look around, and if you like it, there is a community that can take you on new adventures.”
Activision is the scapegoat – but only between the lines
What’s behind it: The interesting part is:
- Bungie never really speaks negatively about Activision, but does a lot differently and repeatedly states that Bungie and Activision “had pursued different goals over time” – What these goals exactly were, is left to the player’s imagination.
- Bungie emphasizes that a “new era has begun” and how great that is, and that everything will be different.
It is noticeable that many changes specifically refer to the business model. Activision already serves as a scapegoat between the lines, something they have shed – even with the delay of the release date of Shadowkeep it was noticeable.
There, Luke Smith made it clear that the delay couldn’t have been made earlier (i.e., under Activision), but now they can do it because they prioritize the well-being of the players above all.
It resonates: The well-being of the player had not had this value previously (under Activision).
It seems at least that the split from Activision has solved something there – even if they do not speak ill of their former partner. One can say:
- Bungie is not unhappy that Activision is gone.
- but Bungie is happy that they are now doing Destiny alone.
