Since the release of Destiny 2 the former game director of the game, Luke Smith, has completely withdrawn. Many are wondering if he still plays a role at Bungie and if so, what? Now there is clarity.
This is what is currently known about Luke Smith’s whereabouts: Many will remember Luke Smith from Destiny 1 and the early days of Destiny 2. But what is the former Destiny 2 lead doing now?
There is little official information. Some fans have speculated that Smith may have taken the blame for the poor development of Destiny 2 – as a kind of scapegoat. Others suspect that Smith is already working on Destiny 3.
Bungie itself revealed in an interview with MeinMMO at the end of August 2018 that Smith is still part of the studio and holds a leadership role there.
This is what Smith is doing now: It is now clear what role he takes at Bungie. After the split from Activision, Smith addressed fans in the current “This Week at Bungie” blog and talked about the future of Destiny – as Destiny Franchise Director. This makes him apparently the main person responsible for the future of Destiny and sets the direction for the games.
This is likely to please many players. Smith was not only responsible for the much-criticized Destiny 2, but was also a key figure in the Destiny 1 expansion “The Taken King” and the raid “Vault of Glass”. The expansion and raid were particularly well received by fans and were celebrated by many as the highlights of Destiny.
This is what Smith says about the immediate future of Destiny 2: Initially, the franchise director thanked Activision as well as the two studios Vicarious Visions and High Moon Studios for their years of collaboration. Afterwards, Smith spoke about the future of Destiny 2.
In the short term, Bungie is still working on the content that has already been announced as part of the Annual Pass. They have learned a lot from the “Black Armory” and want to use this knowledge for future content releases.
They especially want to ensure that new content is accessible to as many players as possible. For example, the level requirements for the first forges were too high, which meant not all players could dive into the new content.
They now want to find a middle ground where many players can enjoy fresh content, and particularly ambitious Guardians can strive for a goal. Additionally, they are looking at further improvements for catch-up mechanics that players could use in upcoming seasons.
This is what Luke Smith says about Destiny 2 in the long term: Bungie and Destiny are meant to be together and that bond remains. They have created this universe and will now hold its future in their own hands.
A large part of the team is working on creating new player experiences, designing new enemies, or finding ways for players to continuously develop their Guardians.
They are also dealing with their newly acquired independence and its consequences. After all, they will soon be completely on their own, needing to publish games independently and determining the future of the games themselves.
In conclusion, Smith looks ahead and sees a bright future for Destiny rooted in an unforgettable past. Not everything has been lost in the dark corners of time, says the franchise director.
What do you think about Smith being the main person responsible for the future of Destiny? Will this benefit the franchise without the pressure from Activision?
