Destiny 2 Is Like The Toxic Ex Who Will Always Overpromise And Underperform

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To put it simply, playing Destiny 2 is like being caught in a rollercoaster ride of an up-and-down relationship that’s both thrilling and frustrating. Despite all the enjoyment it brings, its broken promises and seeming indifference towards your expectations make you question your initial affection for it. Yet, when you attempt to move on, it manages to lure you back with occasional fulfillments of those unmet promises, creating a loop of attraction and disappointment.

I’m deeply fond of Destiny 2. It holds a very special place for me. It’s one of my all-time favorite game franchises and I’ve been captivated by it since middle school. My journey as a Guardian started at its launch in 2014, and over the years, I’ve pretty much experienced everything this franchise has to offer, tallying up at least a grand total of 3,000 hours.

As a gamer, I’ve deeply immersed myself in the Destiny universe to the point where I proudly sport a Titan emblem tattoo on my shoulder – it was my first ink. This franchise has become an integral part of who I am as a gamer. Just like countless other members of the Destiny 2 community, I’ve experienced the highs and lows together, growing stronger through shared triumphs and persevering in difficult times.

It’s breathtakingly impressive when Destiny delivers on its promise. The fighting never fails to entertain, the world construction offers immense possibilities, and the effort required feels more worthwhile with better rewards for players.

However, when the quality is poor, issues can escalate dramatically: excessive and bulky file dimensions, retirement or removal of content, and outdated main features that fail to deliver the same satisfaction as before.

Over the past decade, my passion for this game has never wavered. However, as time goes on, I’m finding it more and more challenging to maintain a hopeful outlook regarding the future of this series.

Overpromised And Underdelivered

At the 2022 Game Developers Convention, Justin Truman, who serves as General Manager for Destiny 2, spoke about the growth of the franchise and how its success influenced Bungie’s methods in game development. During this presentation, he unveiled the “be careful not to overpromise” philosophy that has since become a popular meme within the community.

This action sparked a lot of anger among Destiny 2 enthusiasts. They realized that due to the extensive nature of the game as a live service and the need to keep it running smoothly, Bungie finds it challenging to deliver the high-quality content they’ve been promising without facing financial difficulties.

However, it doesn’t make the frequent layoffs at Bungie over the past two years, which included approximately 100 employees in 2023 and 220 last year in 2024, any more acceptable. Additionally, CEO Pete Parsons’ fondness for expensive classic cars adds to the controversy.

The recurring layoffs at Bungie during the past two years (100 employees in 2023 and 220 last year) can’t be justified, despite CEO Pete Parsons’ passion for costly classic cars.

Indeed, I’m joining in on the discussion about the ups and downs of Destiny 2, much like many others have done before me. It might appear as if I’m contributing to yet another cycle of “it was great/it’s not good anymore” posts, but the culmination of this decade-long narrative seems to mark a significant turning point.

Experiencing this as significantly more emotional and disheartening than merely criticizing seasonal updates or promotions, it’s become a growing pattern during the last year to see popular content creators such as Datto and Byf express sadness about the game’s deteriorating quality.

The Final Honeymoon Phase

The Final Shape surpassed all predictions – Salvation’s Edge was an exhilarating raid, the campaign offered a poignant and emotional swan song for the cherished franchise, and introduced an unforeseen power known as Prismatic. However, Cayde’s departure served as a poignant reminder to many of why he was so deeply admired.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit, the conclusion of the epic Light and Dark Saga has undeniably left a void as vast as Witness itself – one that seems almost unfillable. Yet, despite the high bar set by the past ten years, we eagerly await the upcoming episodes to tie up those lingering plot threads from earlier seasons.

Since wrapping up the Final Shape campaign, I’ve been left feeling rather depleted. Just like many other gamers, my eagerness to jump back in has gradually diminished. Episode Echoes seemed to further dampen my interest; Maya Sundaresh’s manipulations felt stale, and Fikrul’s menace barely registered throughout the episode. The narrative rhythm simply lost its punch.

Due to the streamlined approach that eliminated excess content from earlier seasons, the long-standing issues in the narrative structure have become more apparent.

In each act, there’s a lot of seasonal material crammed together, making it quite clear that the story content in Echoes and Revenant is rather sparse. To put it simply, although an act may take hours to complete, its story content typically lasts less than an hour. This is meant to be spread over weeks, but when you see all the weekly content condensed into something that can be finished in a single sitting, it feels awkward and disconnected.

Advancing the main narrative can sometimes feel laborious due to repeatedly conversing with Non-Player Characters (NPCs), which could’ve been condensed into a single conversation. Additionally, some pivotal narrative instances may not align well with the larger plot or themes. Although Bungie aims to “respect” players’ time by integrating weekly content in a more manageable way, it seems they didn’t structure the storyline around this idea, leading to less-than-optimal execution.

The situation of Destiny 2 appears somewhat gloomy right now. The episodic releases have been a significant source of frustration for both veteran and new players, leading to content burnout which has significantly impacted player numbers. This issue is compounded by the technical problems that occurred during the Dawning event in late 2024. It seems Bungie either recognizes this critical state or is not taking sufficient steps to address it. The overall sentiment among the community, as reflected on Reddit and Bungie forums, is disappointingly low.

Break Up With Destiny 2?

Instead of feigning surprise about the franchise’s consistent pattern, let me clarify that it mirrors a common trend among many live service games: launch an unpolished, underwhelming expansion in one year, and subsequently, unveil one of the most eagerly anticipated expansions within the series.

The Destiny player base finds themselves in a continuous cycle of varying game material, which some find unfortunate. Forsaken was widely embraced by the community, but Shadowkeep saw only modest interest a year later. Although Lightfall’s narrative fell short of expectations, it did not deter players from warmly receiving the following expansion, The Final Shape, upon its release.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed the endless rollercoaster of betraying our trust with unexpected ups and downs from Bungie. It’s clear they have their work cut out for them if they want to regain and maintain the faith they’ve worked so hard to build among us players.

It’s unfortunate to note that Destiny 2 is experiencing a significant decline in its player base. Currently, the number of simultaneous players has dropped to an all-time low of fewer than 20,000, which is stark contrast to the usual 80,000. I can’t help but reminisce about the days when jumping into the game was met with excitement, but now it just feels like a tedious task.

It’s particularly challenging for beginners to get involved, as the New Light experience can be downright unfriendly and bewildering at times. The tutorial doesn’t provide much guidance on essential information, instead plunging new players straight into complex situations, a circumstance I always caution anyone showing even a hint of interest in the game, despite my genuine affection for it.

In contrast, Destiny: Rising, which is currently in the Alpha testing stage, has been receiving a lot of positive feedback, even more so than Destiny 2. However, being a mobile game with potentially exploitative gacha mechanics may limit its success. Given that Bungie is focusing on Marathon development and increasing staff turnover, there’s a risk that Destiny could become a shadow of its past glory unless Bungie learns from their mistakes.

In plain terms, I don’t have a universal fix for the tricky predicament we’re facing, and I can’t give you a clear course of action. For some supporters, the best option could be to move towards new opportunities, while others might choose to persevere.

The Future Of Destiny 2

It’s unlikely that we’ll see “Destiny 3” or a remake of the original “Destiny.” Given the current state of Bungie and the potential impact on the game’s quality, it seems they have their hands full. Additionally, with NetEase focusing on their non-canon gacha game, “Destiny: Rising,” a collaboration appears unlikely.

It’s possible that Destiny 2 may struggle to surpass the anticipation and fulfilling ending of the Light and Dark Saga. The decade we spent with this franchise was unique, and no experience can diminish the memories we made during that time.

Despite upcoming releases like Episode Heresy in February 2025 and Frontiers in September 2025, Bungie has clearly shown their commitment to bringing changes as they’ve unveiled a blueprint outlining the game’s future direction.

The ongoing discussion about the live service model remains intense. Although many believe it negatively impacts titles such as Destiny 2, it’s not likely to alter Bungie’s approach to developing their game.

Players have been expressing a desire for Bungie to incorporate several features into Destiny 2, such as player housing (akin to Warframe), a firing range, sparrow racing, among other suggestions. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the leadership at Bungie primarily makes decisions based on profitability and may not implement these ideas if they are deemed too expensive or risky.

If you’ve grown weary of Destiny 2, it might be a good idea to take a short break. Try exploring other games during this time while Destiny regroups and finds its footing again. At the moment, things seem challenging, but that’s not uncommon for the franchise. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with taking a pause or even stepping away for a while. I took a break when Shadowkeep was launched and didn’t return until Beyond Light was out.

Instead of focusing solely on the negativity associated with Destiny 2, it’s crucial to acknowledge the passion and effort poured into its creation. Despite my complaints about the game, like many others, I can’t ignore the captivating environments and compelling narratives crafted by exceptional writers. These elements have given us unforgettable moments that linger long after playing.

I have no intention of abandoning “Destiny 2.” If this game faces an end, I’ll go down alongside it. The experience and anticipation about its future are too valuable for me to let go. Plus, I’m eager to see where the journey takes us, for as long as we can continue together.

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2025-02-01 00:10