Bungie announces major changes to the Crucible of Destiny 2 in the latest developer update. The news is quite pleasant: the 6v6 mode is returning, a ranking system will be introduced, and private matches are coming!
For a long time, there was silence from Bungie, as the developers spent the holidays with their families. In 2018, Bungie aims to make a fresh start and address many community concerns and implement them in the game.
Game Director Chris Barrett has now addressed the innovations that players can expect in the Crucible. Bungie has not yet given a specific release date, the changes are expected to come in Spring 2018, between March and June.
6v6 Playlist returns to Destiny 2
A major point of criticism of Destiny 2’s PvP has been and still is Bungie’s decision to allow only fireteams of four in Crucible matches. This creates an imbalance, especially for clans that would like to play together.
Because the raid is designed for six players, strikes are completed with three, and the Crucible has only four Guardians. This always leads to players being excluded from activities.
Bungie has now announced that a 6v6 playlist will return. It is meant to complement the 4v4 mode, not replace it. Chris Barrett did not reveal how exactly this will work. The currently available maps are actually too small for 12 players. Bungie has always emphasized that they were designed for 4v4 battles.
Whether Bungie will release new maps tailored for 12 players as part of the expansion is not known. The specific 6v6 game modes have not been announced yet.
The Crucible of Destiny 2 gets a ranking system!
That Bungie is working on implementing a ranking system for the Crucible was already known. Chris Barrett has now revealed further details. The ranking system is expected to be introduced with Season 3. Players can chase ranks in two categories:
- Valor – Players rank up by completing Crucible matches. Wins increase the rank faster, there are no penalties for losing games
- Glory – Players rank up by winning games, and drop ranks with losses. In this ranking system, performance matters
It will be interesting to see how the ranking system is implemented. What modes can be played in ranked matches, what rewards might be expected? The upper image was posted regarding the ranking system. There is a competitive playlist being played. The rank is displayed in the top left and on the badges.
Private matches return to Destiny 2!
Chris Barrett also addressed private matches, which will allow tournaments and games against friends. These will come along with some customization options, as the following screenshot shows:
You can set the game mode, the map, a time limit, a winning score, the maximum number of lives, and respawns.
Whether the private matches will support the 6v6 game mode is currently unknown.
Further changes in the Crucible of Destiny 2
Chris Barrett also commented on the Mayhem game mode. Many players wish for it to return permanently. For now, that will not happen, Barrett only announced that the Clash mode will return with Season 3 and later as limited-time events.
Chris Barrett also briefly touched on the topic of quitters – players who leave Crucible matches prematurely and put their team at a disadvantage. Barrett simply stated that they want to ensure that game quits happen less frequently.
What this specifically means is still unclear. It could involve penalties or increasing the incentives to finish a match.
Further information:
- In autumn, further Crucible playlists like Rumble will be introduced
- A mechanism will be added to prevent the same modes from appearing consecutively in a playlist too often
What do you think of the changes? Do they make you want to visit the Crucible more often?
