Destiny 2 wants to save PvP. But after 572 days without a fresh map for the Crucible, hope is slowly fading for MeinMMO author Philipp Hansen.
Has it really been that long? The last time the Guardians got to enjoy a truly new map for the Crucible was already 1.5 years ago.
- Today, on April 25, 2021, the release of Shadow Keep is indeed 572 days in the past.
- When the expansion was released in 2019, the map “Fragment” was added to the playlists.
- At the same time, 2 classics from Destiny 1 also returned.
- But they are not brand new, and I have already played countless rounds on them.
Where is the PvP love? With the last expansion, no new maps were added – on the contrary, there were even fewer, but more on that shortly. In terms of PvE content, Bungie currently has more to offer.
- While the strike playlist is not overflowing with missions, there has been a threefold increase this season, and PvE content has been appearing quite frequently lately.
- The brand new strike was immediately declared the hardest mission in the game.
- The two secret missions involving a ghost ship and the Fallen Moon are also part of the best story content in years. So it looks like we will be getting a big hit every season.
- The new-old raid “Glass Chamber” is already on the horizon.
Don’t get me wrong: I wish everyone these contents and enjoy playing them myself. But from the perspective of a Guardian who plays both PvE and PvP, it’s truly sad.
Now, in Season 14, we have 20 maps available for PvP – doesn’t sound too bad at first, right? I want to explain why many of the maps are currently completely unsuitable and why the announced salvation of PvP won’t work without fresh maps.
This is how it got worse: The last major expansion Beyond Light didn’t bring any new Crucible maps. Beyond Light took away 11 already existing PvP maps from the Guardians. Not out of malice, but because 5 locations, along with the quests, NPCs, and PvP maps stationed there, have entered the so-called Destiny Content Vault.
- This is a sort of vault where content is stored, can be revised later, and then return in a new form.
- Because Destiny 2 has become too big and unwieldy. For Bungie, it became too complex to properly patch content, and Guardians complained about absurd loading times.
- In theory, it’s a great idea. But it can take forever until such content is “rotated out” and comes back. Until today, more than six months after the introduction of the Content Vault, nothing that was included with Beyond Light has returned.
- Additionally, the Crucible map Citadel has also disappeared into the vault, though its location is still live.
In May 2021, we will receive the Glass Chamber, the famous raid from Destiny 1 with the iconic weapons back. All thanks to the Content Vault. Destiny 2 will consist of the “highlights” from D1 and D2 – which are to alternate and always be polished.
But what good does a raid do me as a PvP player? At the end of 2020, I still defended the Content Vault. Well, back then I was more focused on PvE.
Since 2019, he has been intensively managing the franchise as a specialist author on MeinMMO. Even privately, he continues to collect exotics or test weapons in the Crucible.
Bring back the past
That would be obvious: Destiny 2 lacks PvP maps – then Bungie should quickly bring back maps from Destiny 1. That wouldn’t be anything new. Many of the currently available maps are already familiar to veterans from the original game.
I could imagine that with each Iron Banner, an old map could make its return. This would significantly enhance the stale event that takes place every month and hardly surprises anyone.
Lore-wise, I have no concerns: The grave ship is not in Destiny 2, but as part of a Vex simulation, I can still blow the helmets off other Guardians on “Dust Cathedral” or “Dungeon”.
And it’s not that far-fetched, as the map “Radiant Cliffs” is also just a Vex simulation. The currently playable map is located on Mercury, but Mercury is in the Content Vault.
So Bungie could bring a lot of joy to PvP enthusiasts with relatively little effort (I say that as a non-developer). As we are moving into the Glass Chamber on Venus in Season 15 starting in May, maps like “Asylum”, “Floating Gardens”, and “Last Exit” could provide some variety.
So lore-wise, it fits. But to be honest, I wouldn’t be too happy about that.
Rehashing classics can’t be a permanent solution
The problem I see: Many of the maps from Destiny 1 do not fit the circumstances of Destiny 2.
- The Guardians are currently moving too quickly.
- Warlocks can pull off aerial maneuvers every few seconds, Hunters roll across the map.
- Exotic boots that increase speed and jump distance are seen in every match.
- Don’t get me wrong, the “go fast update” was great, but the maps haven’t changed, unlike the gameplay.
I often notice this with the maps that have been brought back. They are simply too narrow for my taste. Cover is always easy to reach. One reason why shotguns are so prominent and cursed by so many.
This problem doesn’t just affect the PvP maps from Destiny 1. No, the maps from the early days of Destiny 2 also suffer from the stated problems. They were created at a time when abilities charged much slower, there were only 4 Guardians per team (instead of the current 6), and when shotguns, snipers, and fusion rifles were still considered power weapons.
So we need entirely new maps designed for the Crucible. If that’s not feasible, I’d gladly settle for the classics – better than nothing, right?
My hope for PvP is not dead (yet)
Like many other Guardians, I feel abandoned by Bungie when it comes to PvP. I can understand the uprisings that have recently been heard regarding the state of the Crucible.
One could feel like a second-class Guardian. Every TWaB – Bungie’s weekly blog post – provides us with some information about PvE. Sure, I also love the PvE in Destiny 2 and look forward to new strikes, the cool story that is finally being conveyed, and new, challenging missions.
But for months, Bungie has said nothing, despite the lack of new maps, Stasis tearing apart the balance, and the meta being quite stagnant. At least until recently.
So Bungie finally speaks up: The new strongman of Destiny 2, Joe Blackburn, spoke extensively about the future of the MMO shooter in March 2021. And fortunately, PvP is part of that future. I truly had my doubts.
- Even now, we can see that PvE and PvP are being considered separately – a long-standing wish.
- The PvP event Iron Banner is finally receiving new loot.
- In Trials, fresh weapons are temporarily setting records.
The big promises to ensure more fairness in PvP, to address Trials issues, and to frequently release patches for balance maintenance sound great. However, Bungie still has to deliver on many points. My condolences go out to all Gambit fans, of whom I’m sure there are some. You’ve really received even less love, and your future is also uncertain.
Yet, nothing has been heard about new maps for the Crucible so far. Let’s see what Season 15, starting in a few weeks, has to say about it. I still have hope for PvP in Destiny 2…
Did you realize that the last new map is really that old? Would you prefer old classics to return, or do we finally need fresh maps to revitalize the Crucible – or are other issues more important for now? Let us know in the comments.
