Destiny 2 Players Left Frustrated Over Changes to XP and Bright Dust Gains

Players of Destiny 2 are upset about recent changes to how they earn XP and Bright Dust, which are slowing down their progress, especially during the Renegades event. This isn’t the first time the Destiny 2 community has disagreed with how Bungie handles the game’s economy, and with frequent updates, it probably won’t be the last.

While the new Star Warsthemed Renegades expansion hasn’t boosted Destiny 2*’s player numbers as much as some expected, both critics and players generally like it. This is a big improvement over the launch of the previous expansion, The Edge of Fate, which received a lot of criticism for its limited abilities, the Portal feature, and numerous technical issues. Despite Renegades being a better launch overall, players have pointed out one specific aspect that’s actually worse than before.

Destiny 2 Renegades Seasonal XP and Bright Dust Controversy

Bright Dust is a free currency in Destiny 2 that you can use to buy things like cosmetic items and shaders in the game’s shop. Players have always been able to earn it through activities like completing bounties and seasonal challenges. Recently, the Pathfinder system was added as another way to get Bright Dust. Because Destiny 2 is a game that’s constantly updated, the ways to earn Bright Dust have changed over time. Now, with the new Renegades system, Bungie has made a significant change to how players acquire this resource.

When Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate launched, the game removed the Pathfinder system, making it harder for players to earn Bright Dust. Now, with the recent changes – removing Seasonal Challenges and limiting weekly and seasonal Bright Dust earnings through the new Orders system – players are feeling even more restricted. Many have expressed their disappointment and frustration on Reddit, calling Bungie overly cautious with its rewards. Some players predicted this would happen. The original poster, e-photographer, pointed out all the ways to earn Bright Dust that have been taken away over time and asked the community how much more they’re willing to accept.

Image via Bungie

The recent changes to Bright Dust are just one part of a larger update. Destiny 2: Renegades has replaced the old weekly Seasonal Challenges with a new Orders System. Previously, these challenges gave players a lot of experience towards their seasonal battle pass and helped them catch up if they hadn’t played for a while. The Orders System offers repeatable tasks with rewards like experience and Bright Dust, and includes daily and weekly objectives. However, players are earning significantly less experience compared to the old system, and there are fewer objectives to complete each week, making progression feel slower.

It’s unclear whether Bungie will change any of these systems based on what players think. After the difficulties they faced with the Edge of Fate expansion – including a drop in Destiny 2‘s player numbers – Bungie quickly responded to player complaints and issues with the game. They removed Unstable Cores, a new item players didn’t enjoy, and made changes to make the game feel more rewarding. Bungie might make further adjustments, especially since Destiny 2 is still working to regain players. Simplifying things and removing frustrating elements could help bring players back.

Read More

2025-12-07 18:07