The gameplay reveal of Destiny 2 has confused some. This is not a new game! “Yes, that’s true. But no one expected that,” believes our author Schuhmann. In its distribution model, the Destiny franchise resembles a TV series like Game of Thrones more than a “classic game series.”
During the gameplay reveal of Destiny 2, it was clear to see who has played Destiny for a long time and who has not:
There were those who wanted to see the next step their favorite game is taking.
And there were those who tuned in to experience the game presentation of a significant new AAA title.
A group of them sat there at the end with a blissful grin. The others shrugged and could not understand what the fuss was about. The term “Destiny 1.5” was going around.
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Fans in the hall and Youtubers who have followed the shooter for years burst into cheers during the presentation. 400,000 watched on Twitch. On Reddit, the moderators celebrated every detail, every innovation. Changes to individual abilities were noted positively. The fans were happy to see familiar faces. Applause erupted for a weapon that only existed as a phantom in the database in Destiny 1.
What raised only question marks for others: “Who is that guy and why is he blue?”, warmed the hearts of hardcore Destiny fans: There is my boss, Zavala, and he was once just a noob like me!
When gameplay was then shown, neutral viewers rubbed their eyes: Aren’t those the same enemies as in year 1? The same graphics, the same principle? Even the same classes! What is supposed to be new there? Why is this a new game and not an expansion?
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Destiny 2 is not a new, innovative game. Destiny 2 does not behave in relation to Destiny in the same way that sequels in a series usually relate to their predecessor, just as Diablo 2 relates to Diablo 1 or even Guild Wars 2 to Guild Wars 1.
Rather, Destiny 2 is like the next season in a successful TV series.
There are some changes to the basic formula, but not much changes: the same actors, the same settings, the same themes.
This was good! I want more of that!
And that is exactly what the fans expected. Because the first part of Destiny felt “unfinished” since Destiny was structured like a TV series, in which the ending was missing. And with series, people always want more.
No one thinks after the first season of Game of Thrones, “Well, that’s enough for me now! I’m glad I watched it. I’m curious about what the producers will do next!” Instead, they say: “That was good! I want more! What happens next? When does it continue?”
No one in Destiny 1 felt: “Now it is over.” The feeling was “That was just the beginning. I want more.”
And that is exactly what Destiny 2 wants to deliver to them.
The distribution model of games like Destiny or The Division, “Games-as-a-service,” resembles that of a TV series rather than that of a film. And that is the logical consequence: A Destiny 2 does not feel like a new movie, but like the new season of a television series.
Path-breaking was already Taken King in 2015
The way Destiny was at release, the game did not work: the formula was flawed. Therefore, the formula was already adjusted with the first expansion “The Taken King” in September 2015. With these changes:
more MMO elements
more story
more quests
more to do.
Bungie has already taken the pioneering step in 2015 and is now continuing down this path with Destiny 2.
No major innovations are coming with Destiny 2, as none are necessary. The game works – and what is not broken does not need to be fixed.
Destiny does not need to reinvent itself
The path of Destiny has been clearly mapped out since 2015; it just needs to be followed now. The problem in the last few years has been that no steps in the right direction have been made. No game content has been introduced. But the direction has been clear.
In gaming, there are some game series that are exhausted and desperately need to reinvent themselves after countless installments. But: Destiny does NOT belong to these game series. Destiny does not need to reinvent itself because no one can no longer stand to see it, but in Destiny, fans have been calling for “more” for 2 years.
And with Destiny 2, these steps are coming; the encore is coming. Fans see this, and they are excited about it. However, some changes are desperately needed in the formula, and they are likely coming.
Changes to the basic formula of gameplay mechanics – but also concerns
It is now interesting to observe how Bungie changes the formula:
But there are currently serious problems with the “technical details.”
Fans are particularly concerned that Bungie has not decided to implement dedicated servers.
Also, the cap of 30 FPS on PS4 and Xbox One in 2017 makes some fans gulp hard.
And that the PC port still has no release date, and is set to come later than the console versions, is a cause for frustration.
Currently, this is a much bigger problem for hardcore fans than the fact that Destiny 2 does not “feel like a new game.”
Bungie now also has to live with the disadvantages of a TV series when it comes to Destiny
However, if Bungie wants to be evaluated like a TV series, they also have to accept the disadvantages of this model.
Even if the new entry works thanks to the reboot character, it will become increasingly difficult to find new players. Bungie will then rely on maintaining the existing player base.
The question is whether Bungie will be able to long-term solve the content poverty after release, and whether they can meaningfully develop Destiny 2 further. To stick to the series analogy: The release of Destiny 2 is just a strong first episode; afterward, good episodes need to follow before one can say: “That was a good season.”
Furthermore, if a season goes wrong and does not work at all, the future of the entire series is endangered.
We have dealt with the principle that Destiny functions like a TV series here:
Destiny 2 is a multiplayer online loot shooter with MMO elements developed by Bungie. It was released on September 6, 2017, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and ...
