The Destiny series is and remains my favorite game, but The Division 2 is currently the better Destiny 2 for me and has led me to wear my Agent gear more often than my Guardian outfit for the first time. Do you feel the same way – perhaps with other games?
So I currently look back on two of my favorite games: I am Sven Galitzki, shooter and Destiny author at MeinMMO, and if there is a game that will forever have a place in my heart, it is the Destiny series – including Destiny 2. However, for the first time since the beta of Destiny 1, I have significantly neglected my virtual Guardian gear in favor of another game just before the Season 10.
Because The Division 2 is celebrating a sort of “Warlords of New York” expansion and is currently captivating me with many features that I have always loved about Destiny 2. Additionally, there is something else about The Division 2 that I currently miss from Bungie. But more on that later.
Keep in mind that this is my personal opinion, which does not necessarily align with your views.
Why the slump in Destiny 2?
In short: I have experienced every high and low of the Destiny franchise, but for the first time, the content of the new season appeals to me so little that I will likely only log in sporadically during Season 10 (except for the Trials). But why?
These are the reasons:
- Yes, the Trials are back and it feels cool. But it is basically the same as in Destiny 1. And not just in terms of mechanics, but also visually.
- The really exclusive loot is missing that would lure me to the Lighthouse. Where are the adept weapons?
- Otherwise, Season 10 offers me hardly anything to get excited about. New artifact and power level? Why? In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Even in the Trials, the power level is currently (yet?) not as crucial as initially feared.
- New armor? I have already farmed my appearance and stats, and none of the new stuff really appeals to me right now.
- New worthwhile weapons? Essentially, after all the buffs and nerfs, I am back to my loadout that I used a few months ago (Summit, Spider, Anarchy, or Whisper). There are no top weapons anymore; only one ritual weapon is, in my opinion, a bit too little to keep me engaged as in the past.
- New activities? Essentially, for me, it is now Season 9 with Warmind setting. Unfortunately, there is no new raid or new strikes, and the old ones no longer provide me with motivation.
All of this and some other points may not apply to everyone. But I know many who feel exactly this way or at least similarly right now.
I still firmly believe in Destiny: Destiny 2 is by no means a bad game for me. And I hope and believe that it could soon look different around Destiny 2. But currently, with the Season of Worthy, I have just lost interest for the first time.
Overall, there simply isn’t enough new content in Season 10 that could motivate me to tune in regularly. At the same time, I have reached a point where the content that used to motivate me in the long term is simply no longer enjoyable.
Why The Division 2?
This is how I currently see The Division 2: It looks quite different for me at The Division 2 – even though Massive’s cover shooter is currently certainly struggling with its own issues.
While I have been a diligent Guardian and an enthusiastic Agent since The Division 1, my main focus has always been on the world of Destiny. This has changed with Title Update 8, the major Warlords expansion, and the recently launched Season 1. Currently, I am primarily an Agent.
What I currently like about The Division 2:
- The Warlords expansion continues the story of The Division 2. For me, this is currently more exciting and entertaining than the seasonal story snippets in Destiny 2.
- The Division 2 now has a fantastic new open world in the heart of New York. Yes, New York was already featured in The Division 2, but the new area in Lower Manhattan is quite different from NYC in the first part and offers much new for both newcomers and veterans alike. Even though the Moon in Destiny 2 with Shadowkeep inspired nostalgic feelings – I can somehow get more excited about the new New York.
- With Title Update 8, there have been many changes that have been requested by players in one form or another. Among other things, the gear system has been revamped with Gear 2.0 and the max level has been raised. Similar changes have also been seen in Destiny 2. However, in my view, it has worked much more effectively in The Division 2 and contributed more to gameplay enjoyment and long-term motivation. Many things that bothered me about The Division 2 and prevented me from fully immersing myself have been improved or resolved.
- With seasons and a sort of battle pass, The Division 2 is now following the seasonal content model just like Destiny 2. However, in my view, the structure of the season and the seasonal rewards in The Division 2 motivate more than they currently do in Destiny 2. Therefore, I am currently happily replaying old content in Washington D.C.
These are just some of the numerous points, and much of it may be a matter of taste or perspective. However, no game has yet truly managed to pull me away from Destiny 2. And precisely because of these points, I am currently experiencing a sort of second spring with The Division 2 – even though I have always played it regularly (even during content droughts).
This makes The Division 2 currently better than Destiny 2 for me
Two points that make the difference for me: Ultimately, there are two points that lead me to prefer the role of Agent over my duties as a Guardian:
- The current fun factor
- The development of the game
The Division 2 is more fun for me: The Division 2 has recently undergone a major overhaul (similar to how Destiny 2 did with Forsaken) and currently has a lot of new content to offer with Warlords and Season 1. Therefore, the game is currently simply more fun for me.
For me, the mix of new content and the motivation to replay previous content is simply right at the moment. Because I currently enjoy revisiting old content alongside Season 1. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Destiny 2 at the moment (or anymore).
With The Division 2 I feel – The game is alive: Additionally, the work of the developers around The Division 2 has had me feeling very optimistic for some time now and currently gives me the impression that things are progressing significantly better in this game and its existing issues (even if in small steps) than in Destiny 2.
There, I currently have the feeling that the game is being run on a low flame with the minimum necessary effort. Unfortunately, I don’t notice much actual development there – rather, I’ve been feeling that the game is stagnating in my opinion or even regressing in some areas – like the ongoing development of weapons.
Even if not everything is perfect with The Division 2 after the new expansion and big update, and the game still has to improve significantly in terms of loot and balance – the second spring combined with the feeling that my journey as an Agent is being continuously and openly tinkered with and optimized gives me the feeling that I will enjoy playing as an Agent for the long term.
With Destiny 2, I have particularly lost this feeling, especially since the Forsaken expansion, and also since Shadowkeep. And even though both games fundamentally focus on similar content and now also on comparable content replenishment models with the seasons, I feel that it is currently more worthwhile to invest my time in The Division 2.
My conclusion in short: The new content in The Division 2 is coherent and fun. For me, the situation in Destiny 2 looks quite different at the moment. There is no longer a good mix of new things and motivation for old content.
Moreover, I feel that the developers of The Division 2 are working with full force on the game, pushing it forward, and improving it – exactly where players want it (albeit sometimes slowly and in multiple attempts). I just feel like: This game is alive! But that feeling unfortunately diminishes for me regarding Destiny 2.
How about you? Do you feel similarly with Destiny 2 or possibly with The Division 2 or other games? Have you also set aside your absolute favorite game for another? Or is there a game to which you remain loyal without question?
