In Destiny 2, Bungie continues its offensive on enlightenment. This time it’s about the issue of bounties and the compulsion to be forced into a playstyle. The bounties are set to be radically overhauled – but not for several months.
That’s why bounties are problematic: Currently, Destiny 2 consists mostly for many players of mindlessly farming bounties. These are small tasks from NPCs that grant significantly more XP than pretty much anything else in the game.
Completing bounties is a core activity in Destiny 2.
The problem is that the tasks are repetitive and often dictate which weapon, in which activity, must be used how. But if you want to level your Season Pass (cool cosmetics) and your Artifact (powerful abilities), you basically can’t avoid the tedious bounty grind. After all, they are the best source of progress.
Even in the current event “Guardian Games”, there is criticism for the strong focus on bounties. Because if you want to own the new event exotic , you have to endure medals and triumphs through weeks of bounty grind.
Some players already call Destiny 2 “Bounty Simulator the Game” (via reddit).
Bungie has heard the criticism and is now presenting a handful of solutions.
Bounties should no longer be boring “chores”
This is set to change: In the TWaB from April 30, Bungie’s design lead Tyson Green has spoken up and presented the planned changes for the bounty problem:
- Weekly bounties should be replaced with milestone mechanics – These milestones offer account-wide, non-time-critical tasks for all characters and should provide more XP than current bounties
- With the shift of the season model in year 4, the general role of bounties should also change. They should no longer be the best way to farm XP or achieve seasonal progress
- The major role of bounties in events will be reconsidered
- Players should no longer have to check in with NPCs for minutes before every session – bounties should become acceptably from orbit/director (as it currently works in Eververse)
- The expiration date of bounties will be made more generous, but not completely removed
- The tasks of the bounties should be less restrictive – meaning they should no longer dictate so strictly how you have to play Destiny 2
When will the changes come? Most of the planned changes for bounties are set to find their way into Season 12 of Destiny 2. Tyson Green also emphasized that “details are still in development” and are currently not final.
Season 12 is expected in fall 2020 – perhaps along with a major expansion.
Even in the next season, Guardians can look forward to smaller “quality of life” adjustments. This includes, among other things, the relaxed deadlines for bounties. The ability to access NPCs from orbit is currently only planned for Season 13 but is a fixed part of Bungie’s “roadmap”.
Will the changes make a difference? With the planned adjustments, Bungie is not taking the often touted route of option C. Especially the ability to access bounties from anywhere is something players deeply desire.
The strong emphasis on the dull grind and the feeling of forced labor is also off-putting to many – including our MeinMMO author Sven Galitzki.
Destiny 2 should be playable in the way that suits you. No Guardian wants to be constantly forced into a role that doesn’t suit them, but they have to accept it because otherwise, significant disadvantages await.
What do you think of the planned changes – sensible ideas to improve the dull bounty mechanic or would you have wanted a different solution? Are the adjustments coming too late? Let us know in the comments.
