Guardians leave PvP matches in the Crucible of Destiny 2 prematurely. This is a real annoyance. Some call for penalties for this desertion. But can Bungie actually enforce such penalties, and should they?
The discussion is as old as Destiny: There are players who leave matches early. These are the so-called quitters. They are supposed to be punished. This penalty is intended to make players finish the matches properly.
But can this even work? Or will honest players also be punished by this approach?
That’s why quitters are a problem in Destiny 2
Unlike in Destiny 1, the abilities (the skill) of a single player now play a lesser role in Destiny 2. This is mainly due to two factors:
- The team size has been reduced from 6 to 4 players
- Weapons and abilities deal less damage – team shots are more important
If a player drops out, whether due to a quit or a disconnect, the rest of the team has a big problem. In Destiny 1, a skilled player could compensate for a missing person – in Destiny 2 it is significantly harder.
If a team loses just one teammate, it is nearly impossible to win the game. This causes frustration among the remaining players.
Unlike in quick play, a missing player in competitive mode is rarely replaced. If a Guardian leaves the game right at the beginning, the three remaining Guardians face an almost impossible task.
To reduce the number of players quitting, penalties are now being demanded. But is this really the right way?
The reasons for quitting a game are varied
Demanding penalties for quitters is easy, but it misses the point. Because there are reasons why players exit a lobby early. Bungie needs to address these reasons.
That’s why players quit the Crucible:
- The opposing team consists of a full clan / a pre-formed fireteam – and their own team is a ragtag bunch
- Their own team is hopeless
- Players are only playing to complete a challenge or quest – once that’s done, players disappear from the match
The first two issues are significantly more serious than the third point and target the matchmaking. Due to the reduced team size in Destiny 2, an opposing team, where all players belong to the same clan, is much more frequently encountered.
Why the competitive game mode in Destiny 2 suffers more from quitters
The competitive playlist in the Crucible is increasingly affected by premature game exits. And there are reasons for this:
- more pre-formed fireteams play the competitive mode
- the games take longer, but with the same loot as in quick play. Thus, players on the losing team have little incentive to finish a game
- A player who quits early is rarely or never replaced
Additionally, the mercy rule is missing – at least in my experience. In Destiny 1, it ensured that one-sided games were ended prematurely. This made quitting unnecessary. It was clear: If it becomes too one-sided, the game will be over soon anyway.
Why incomplete teams are rarely completed during the game is unclear.
The theories range from poor search criteria in matchmaking to a deliberate circumstance on Bungie’s part to make the competitive playlist as close as possible to the Trials of the Nine.
Bungie needs to solve the problems, not punish quitters
Many players demand that quitters be sanctioned with a 30-minute ban if they leave a game prematurely. The problem with this is that all players would be punished, even if they accidentally got disconnected from a game.
This could be avoided by Bungie implementing a system that is inspired by Overwatch. If a player has to leave a lobby due to a connection error, they have the option to rejoin that game.
Such a system would only make sense if players also have a reason to rejoin an ongoing game. And currently, Bungie provides no reason for that.
The competitive game mode has no ranking system, no incentive to prefer it over quick play. Additionally, the reward system is underdeveloped and does not motivate players to finish a match.
This is how premature game exits could be prevented
Bungie needs to minimize the reasons for game exits. Measures such as
- an improved loot system,
- reducing match durations,
- an improved matchmaking that considers fireteam size,
- immediate replacement of a missing player,
- a revision of the mercy rule (ending a game if x players have been missing from a team for x minutes)
can help to significantly reduce the number of game exits.
The ability to rejoin a game that one had to leave due to a connection error would not only be a benefit for the normal Crucible but also for the Trials of the Nine.
What are your experiences with premature match exits? Let us know in the comments!
