Recently, we asked you on MeinMMO if Destiny 2 has become easier and more casual-friendly lately. Your response is quite clear, even if some find the current status quo just right. Here’s how you voted.
Why the survey? For some time now, players have been complaining that Destiny 2 has been getting easier since Forsaken and is developing in a more casual-friendly direction – despite Bungie stating that they are aligning the game more with the wishes of the core fans since Forsaken.
Recently, well-known pro player and Destiny streamer Gladd complained about this issue – that Destiny is getting easier, offers fewer challenges, and that everything is just given away (like, for example, the new exotic pistol Devil’s Ruin). According to him, PvP is easier than ever.
Consequently, we wanted to know in a survey from you, our readers, whether you see this development the same way. Now we have evaluated the results of the voting.
For most of you, Destiny has become easier
A total of 1,759 of our readers participated in this survey. Here’s how you voted:
Almost half of you see a casual-friendly trend: Some survey participants say Gladd’s statement doesn’t carry real weight since he speaks for a small minority that doesn’t keep the game alive in the long run.
Nonetheless, a total of 43%, meaning 746 participants, stated that Destiny 2 has not only noticeably become easier in their eyes but that the game is also clearly moving towards being more casual. Gladd’s remarks are not entirely unfounded.
For example, our reader Stoffel writes: “For me, Destiny became very casual with the introduction of New Light. We had to, as a small example, completely earn all the Supers of the individual classes, which was quite a bit of work. Back then, there was also no quest for Jötunn and Izanagi…”
Dat Tool says: “… Regardless of what a streamer or full-time Destiny player says, I consider most PvE activities to be too easy. …”
Missed Chance believes: “Gladd is right. New content is trickling into the game in homeopathic doses. The sundial is less Menagerie 2.0, more like 0.5. The only incentive that one might find is to farm weapons with good traits (‘god tier perks’).”
Press o,o to evade says: “Well, the problem is a bit older. I know a few players who have left Destiny because PvE is too easy.
They are now playing Division 2 … Additionally, some PvP pros from my friends list have stopped playing because Unbroken isn’t worth anything anymore.”
And Gerrit sees it this way: “I have a buddy who started playing Destiny 2 in November. He actually gets 1-2 new exotics every day. By now, he has about 80% of my most important exotics/top weapons, and I’ve been playing for 2 years. The glory loss in Survival is a joke. The 2,100 points for the recluse and Luna’s howl pose no challenge to anyone anymore.”
More than two-thirds believe Destiny 2 has become easier: Alongside the 43% of readers who believe Destiny 2 has notably become easier and more casual-friendly, 27% of participants (462) said that some aspects of Destiny 2 have gotten easier – even if they don’t yet see a real trend towards casualness.
This means that in total, a whole 70% believe that Destiny 2 has become easier lately.
Nearly a quarter says – it’s good as it is: Not everyone sees the situation as dramatically. 24% (439 participants) felt that Destiny 2 currently offers a good balance for core and casual players and could remain this way.
No_Obey comments: “The game currently has a good balance for both sides of the player base. For the 95% of working casuals who financially sustain the game and for the 5% ‘pros’ who should also get up from their chairs occasionally. I don’t think anyone should complain about it, as for the money, for example, with WoW, you only get online access. Bungie is on the right path.”
Gouly-fouly also finds the current status quo okay: “Since I currently mainly play alone and don’t get to play much, I find it quite fitting the way it is right now. Thus, I focus on Luna and then also on Redrix.”
Mausermaus can also live well with the current situation: “Personally, I also think it’s good the way it is in terms of difficulty…”
Hardly anyone thinks that Destiny 2 has not become easier: Just a little over 100 of the total 1,759 participants believe that Destiny 2 has not lost difficulty recently.
Thus, 3% (55) stated that Destiny 2 has not become easier and that there is no casual trend observable. Another 3% (57) even felt that much in Destiny 2 is still too hard.
But these numbers further highlight the prevailing consensus. In the eyes of most participants, Destiny 2 has indeed become easier.
Destiny 2 is easier, yes – but that’s not necessarily the problem
Some see the problem elsewhere: Even though the survey results speak quite clearly, many readers do not necessarily see a problem in Destiny becoming easier. What concerns them is not the declining challenge or lack of difficulty but something much more fundamental.
It’s simply about the activities offered. In the view of many readers, there are hardly any activities left that they enjoy doing, that would really be fun, or that would be worth it. Some readers simply lack long-term motivation and replayability. And this motivation does not necessarily come from difficulty but also heavily depends on the quality of the loot or the content itself.
If there isn’t really something to chase after because you need it so badly, then the difficulty is just secondary.
Our reader Willy Snipes summarizes the problem well: “This is rather a problem of the activities. When I think about what I would ‘like’ to do for fun, or what motivates regarding potential loot in D2… I can’t think of anything right now. The last weeks, when I still played, it was just grinding bounties to level the season pass. The strikes in D1 still have more replayability for me than D2 overall.”
Even v AmNesiA v shares this opinion: “The question shouldn’t be whether Destiny is too casual, but whether it has motivating activities in its current state. Activities and accompanying rewards that encourage most players to want to keep playing them repeatedly. I completely miss that. I look at what’s going on and then have no urge to start the game.”
Der_Frek also strikes the same chord: “Currently, there’s a lack of real challenges, or loot that I could chase after and want to…”
What do you think? Would you overlook an easier difficulty if Destiny 2 noticeably improved in other areas? Would you care if loot is just handed to you or that many things become easier if you consistently had enough enjoyable activities with worthwhile rewards?
