Destiny 2 set new standards in 2019 when it transitioned from a pay-to-play shooter to a free-to-play live service game. Since then, many games have attempted to follow this model, such as The Division 2, Marvel’s Avengers, or Anthem. However, they have all failed. We tell you why this is not the case for Bungie, even though the community often complains about it.
Live service games are in demand: The term “live service” or “games-as-a-service” promises players a constant flow of content for games that would normally have ended after their campaign for years to come. This model allows a game to be played for much longer. Developers can also monetize it for a longer period.
In 2019, Bungie took the leap and shifted the focus of Destiny 2 to this new live service model. They also added free-to-play with “New Light” to their top shooter. Guardians who were interested in additional content could simply purchase it at any time from then on.
However, the model not only sparked players’ interest. The competition also followed suit, hopped on the “games-as-a-service” train, and devoted its resources to long-term player experiences. But what Bungie managed so easily posed an incredibly large challenge for many other games, causing several developers to fail dramatically.
- The MMO project Marvel’s Avengers flopped and discontinued its live service in 2020
- In 2021, EA wanted to directly compare Anthem to Destiny 2, also announced a 10-year content journey, and then had to give up
- In 2022, the “Destiny in medieval times” rip-off “Babylon’s Fall” dies after not even a year
- And even Ubisoft wanted to offer a full live service for The Division 2, promised continuous content, and can now only make headlines with delays, player raids in the DZ, and internal issues.
Of course, Destiny 2 is not the only successful live service game out there. The biggest example is probably the MMORPG World of Warcraft. Still, it seems that very few developers manage to survive the gauntlet for a functional live service game and, above all, to provide what is necessary for it.
Looking at Destiny 2 in 2023, everything is not always rosy with the ongoing seasonal content.
In Season 17, Guardians complained massively about the content recycling of the once flagship of Calus, the Leviathan. Bungie did connect it to the ongoing story but brought back the old raid as a “new” location.
The Leviathan, the massive ship of the Cabal Emperor, returned in Season 17 changed but with an emotional message for Destiny 2:
This pattern continued in Season 19, where content from Season 10 was recycled. In addition to the Mars swallowed by darkness, the Seraph Bunkers also emerged from hiding. Bungie provided a practical time dilation as an explanation.
So what is it that makes Bungie an exception in live service and ensures that the loot shooter has so far successfully continued this model?
A unique mix with a solid foundation
Bungie benefits not only from market dominance: Destiny 2 is an MMO shooter that thrives mainly on its good mix of competitive and cooperative elements. Players always have a suitable gameplay mode for every mood.
- Those who enjoy PvP gameplay have several modes to choose from in Destiny: regular PvP, an Iron Banner PvP event, and the PvP endgame Trials.
- Those who prefer shooting aliens can also do so. It spans various difficulty levels up to the top tier for hardcore players.
- And those who want both can jump into the PvEvP mode Gambit, where they can fight both aliens and other Guardians.
Both Anthem and Marvel’s Avengers only offered their players pure PvE content. And not only that. Their story was never continued as an ongoing story update. Something Bungie has also done from the very beginning with his live service for Destiny 2.
Tom Farnsworth, Bungie’s Senior Design Lead, once emphasized to MeinMMO that you must not only provide good service.
[…] the real strength of live service games is that you are always building towards something better.
explains Tom Farnsworth, Bungie’s Senior Design Lead to Mein-MMO.de
Thus, over all the gaming challenges, there is also a captivating, ongoing story in Destiny 2 that you can actively experience as a Guardian. This optimized “Bungie formula” over several seasons is what allows you to distinguish yourself quite well from other games.
Can Bungie maintain its service standard? That remains to be seen. Some other live service games that have failed felt incomplete from the start. There were often technical issues, many of which were fixed too late or never. And the live service did not always consist of new content, but of content droughts, because content could not be completed in time. In the end, that drives away even the last nerve-wracking players.
At least for now, Bungie can present a wealth of advantages.
- When errors occur, support responds quickly and takes care of timely updates or maintenance so that issues do not linger for long.
- The story of Light and Darkness captivates many players and makes them curious about what is to come.
- You can play Destiny 2 with your friends and explore the world together or face challenges together.
However, the strong facade begins to crack when serious bugs plague the game, cheaters attack PvP, and excessive recycling is increasingly viewed as critical by long-term players.
After Destiny 2, the next games will probably also be provided with new content in the same way as the current loot shooter from the studio. Therefore, Bungie will not be able to postpone the most pressing issues that currently plague Destiny 2 for too long.
This could otherwise potentially affect the long-term trust of many players and as a result also impact the company’s always excellent reputation. The best live service means nothing if a bitter community uninstalls the game.
Which live service game do you remember that no longer exists today, and what did you miss about it? Do you think Bungie will take the same path? Or will the developer keep its goal in sight and ensure that its community becomes more satisfied again? Feel free to share your personal opinion in the comments.
At least the first steps have been taken. For Lightfall, many changes are coming that should mark a new beginning and put Destiny 2 on track for the future:
Destiny 2: Lightfall will radically change the build system – Should be a new beginning
