In Destiny 2, the Trials are setting records, but now streamers are railing against the praised PvP mode, and more and more average players are complaining that Bungie is breaking everything again after just one week.
Destiny 2 has significantly revamped the Trials (Trials of Osiris) in the current Season 15 and turned the otherwise elite PvP mode into a favorite among Guardians. The changes were well received and brought Bungie records.
However, Bungie followed up immediately and a week later brought further changes, some of which had been requested for years. Now a new feature is causing a small civil war among Guardians: Streamers vs. Average players, and Bungie is somehow getting involved in the dispute as well.
This is the requested change: Since Saturday, September 18th, Destiny 2 has split Trials players into 2 groups:
- Group 1: Guardians who have achieved Flawless. That is, 7 wins without a loss in the Trials and are thus allowed to go to the legendary Lighthouse. There, the best PvP loot awaits, players receive cool emblems to show off, and the gear shines.
- Group 2: Guardians who have not yet completed a Flawless run (Flawless) will no longer face the 7-time winners.
This is exactly what many Guardians have wished for years. They are just tired of being farmed repeatedly by the PvP gods. The poor and average players felt like mere stepping stones for others to reach the prestigious Lighthouse multiple times a week.
Community is in a “Civil War” over Trials matchmaking
So what’s the problem now? The loudest voices are initially from streamers, content creators, and PvP pros, as they are now stuck in sweaty lobbies all weekend after a fixed Flawless run on Friday. It is only with great effort (or luck) that other players can be pulled to the Lighthouse on the following days or that they can record relaxed content for their channels. Such carry services are a popular form of fan interaction and certainly a source of income for some.
On the other hand, we have the average players. Thanks to the much more accessible Trials, these Guardians are flocking into the PvP mode and celebrating successes. At first, it is a celebration for them, as the Trials become easier with each passing day. As more and more better players land in the Flawless pool, even solo victories become possible.
This way, it is now much easier for an average player to achieve Lighthouse status, which makes them happy and truly motivated.
If you play Destiny 2 too well, your account is poisoned for a week
If someone has discovered their love for the Trials due to the first Flawless run, they want to keep playing.
- After all, loot rains down after 7 wins and a Flawless ticket after each round won.
- The great Trials engrams are then invested in gear that they have been envious of for years.
This is why the ticket is poisoned: However, these players then hit a wall: They are now in the Flawless pool and see no way out. Many stop quickly, obtain no further victories, and thus hardly any more loot. Playing in the elite group means almost only facing coordinated teams of three, as hardly anyone else can survive. Even a character switch doesn’t help; the entire account is now “Flawless”.
Average players get frustrated. They have to wait until the next weekend for another chance at victory and loot. Even if one wants to play with other average Guardians, it is almost impossible after having been Flawless once. Because just one Flawless player in the team is enough to pull everyone into the Flawless pool.
Bungie intervenes in the discussion about experiments in Trials of Osiris
The well-known Destiny expert Mercules904, who often stands out with detailed tables and analyses, complains that Bungie is killing the replayability of the Trials. Just last week, Bungie boasted about the number of matches played.
Now they are sacrificing all of it just so that bad players can also reach the Lighthouse. And this is exactly what Bungie should openly admit according to Mercules904 and not sell the matchmaking changes any differently than (via Twitter), that it is “bullshit”.
This is what the developer says: Bungie’s Community Manager Dylan “dmg04” Gaffner intervenes in the conversation on Twitter.
- Dmg04 clarifies that Bungie is lying to the community and asks not to simply call it bullshit just because one disagrees.
- If the Trials changes are poorly received – through feedback and player data – Bungie would make further changes if necessary.
- Dmg04 then continues and states that he does not quite understand what would be great to play again, as a bad player continually loses 0 to 5 (via Twitter).
Bungie has already announced that the Trials starting on September 24 will bring some new features: A new zone mode will be tested, and players will no longer see in the game search whether they are facing solo players or teams.
What do you think about this – did you get to the Lighthouse for the first time in these Trials, did you notice that the top players were missing? Or are you quickly taking the chance to sweep through the thinned-out player pool? Or are you more on the side of the streamers and casual players who were looking forward to nice multiple days in the Trials of Osiris?
