Destiny 2 regularly offers its players free events that provide new challenges and rewards. However, this year’s summer event “Solstice” does not seem to engage some Guardians as much. It falls short of expectations. And the rewards this year are rather disappointing.
This is what players criticize about the summer event 2023: Every summer, the free summer event “Solstice” takes place in Destiny 2 . Guardians are invited to explore the ELZ (European Air Zone) and collect glowing armor and new weapons.
But this year, the event seems not to feel as “fresh” as Paul Tassi from Forbes points out with several criticisms.
- Compared to previous years, 2023 lacks creative innovations that could make the event exciting and challenging.
- The event weapon is suitably designed. However, it cannot compete with the much stronger rocket launchers already present in the game.
- Tassi even goes so far as to say: “The Solstice in Destiny 2 is probably the best example of the decline of Destiny events”.
He justifies his statement by saying that the events in Destiny 2, in his opinion, now almost exclusively consist of “copy and paste” of content from previous years. And when something changes, it tends to get worse rather than better.
What this year’s summer event in Destiny 2 offers can be seen in this video:
A plea for creative challenges
As Paul Tassi points out, we are already in the fifth year of the European Air Zone, the zone where the Solstice celebration takes place. For two years, there has also been the activity “Campfire Party”.
However, this party is not well received by some Guardians who have been playing Destiny 2 for a long time.
The content has lost its allure over the years, and some feel that the developers are not paying enough attention to the needs of long-time players who already know everything. But there is also criticism beyond that.
A Guardian comments Schattenlord85 on MeinMMO:
Nowadays, one must be content with anything that offers a little variety! The strand rocket launcher is just recycled again, and what’s even harder for Bungie? I don’t mind if something is challenging, but simply cranking up enemy HP is just lazy and uncreative.
criticizes Schattenlord85 on MeinMMO the Solstice 2023
In particular, the following problems addressed by Paul Tassi and players:
- According to Tassi, the only innovations in 2023 are that you get two buffs. However, these are not as good as in previous years, when there were elemental buffs that were more fun.
- The verticality in the air zone is not really utilized, making it just a slimmed-down version of previous years.
- The “earned” white armor glow this year is hardly worth mentioning. Better are the color-changing elemental glows, which cannot be acquired through event play. This better, final, elemental glowing version of the armor set can be purchased with Silver or one can use their glimmer for the downgraded armor version. So, if it’s just about the glow, one could actually “skip” playing the event with this purchase.
Another main goal of the summer event is to obtain high-quality armor pieces, which, however, is quite complex and time-consuming. Moreover, there is an inequality between Free2Play players and paying season-pass holders, Tassi complains. And the other rewards of the event do not look any better.
Bungie has added a suitably designed weapon to the event, as it does every year. However, this new “carrot” does not interest some Guardians at all.
- The YouTuber Kree thoroughly presented the new event weapon, the strand rocket launcher “Crowning Dialogue,” and described it in his video as “an immeasurable disappointment.” Several old rocket launchers in the game are significantly better, and the perks do not provide any significant damage advantage.
Additionally, this year there are only a few cosmetic event rewards to earn. A ship is included in the event challenges, and a new shader is available for glimmer. However, the second event shader is already hidden behind the “event pass,” which costs 1,000 Silver or 9.99 euros.
According to Paul Tassi, perhaps a well-made shader would have sufficed to garner more attention from the players. As an example of how well this can work, he cites the “Chainmail” shader from the Iron Banner event.
How can it be better? Many players of Destiny 2 passionately invest time and energy into the game whenever something exciting, beautiful, or powerful is offered that they can earn.
If the event does not bring a new player experience, a new map, or a new mode to the game, then it definitely needs rewarding incentives to motivate the players. However, these are not present in the ongoing summer event, as Paul Tassi points out.
His suggestion is therefore: In autumn, the “Festival of the Lost” will be the next free event in Destiny 2, where player feedback could be utilized to design future events with fresh ideas and a better balance between challenge and reward.
What do you think about the criticism that this year’s summer event in Destiny 2? Do you find creative innovations and fresh challenges in events important to motivate players? How do you see the ongoing event and what would you like for future events in Destiny 2? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
The communication between Bungie and the community is currently strained:
Destiny 2: Community manager announces after death threat – Bungie: “Expect no more answers”
