Destiny 2catches a lot of flak, especially this year thanks to Bungie’s mass layoffs, but certain strengths of the live-service are undeniable. It’s perhaps the most well-crafted GaaS shooter on the market today, especially for those who prize elements like shooting mechanics and episodic storytelling, which are two arenas whereDestiny 2excels.
But the future ofDestiny 2, and theDestinyIP as a whole, is a bit up in the air at the moment. There’s the aforementioned mass layoffs at Bungie to contend with, but then there’s also the matter ofDestiny Rising, a promising mobile spin-off that could soak up much of the developer’s time and resources in the coming years. There’s also Sony’s acquisition of Bungie back in 2022, which has a good chance ofshapingDestiny’s long-term strategy. All of this is to say that it’s not clear if there will ever be a properDestiny 3one day, but as other live-services have proven, this doesn’t need to be a bad thing.
Helldivers 2 Is “Growing” into Helldivers 3, and Destiny 2 Should Take the Same Route
Destiny’s Place in the Live-Service Market It Helped Create
Back when the firstDestinycame on the scene in 2014, what gaming audiences now know as “live-service” games didn’t really exist. Indeed,Destinyitself was more of a traditional science-fiction shooter with some RPG elements, sharing a lot more DNA with the single-player campaigns ofHalothan whatDestiny2is known for now. It wasn’t untilDestiny 2came onto the scene a few years later that the series pivoted to a more typical modern-day live-service, eventually even becoming free-to-play and relying on expansions for continuous content.
But full-fledged sequels are a bit tricky in the realm of the live-service game.This was seen withOverwatch 2, which greatly struggled to justify its existence as a proper follow-up to the first wildly successful title. It was free-to-play, but even so, when a company tacks a “2” to the end of a title, audiences come to expect more than just a few minor updates. It didn’t help that many ofOverwatch 2’s changes were poorly received, but that’s besides the point.
Destiny 2is in the same boat, in a sense. Players expect continuous evolution from their live-service games, so it can be hard to draw a firm line between a full sequel and amajor expansion likeThe Final Shape. This makesDestiny 3something of a tricky proposition, though it would symbolize a “next step” for the game and undoubtedly attract a new audience. A middle-ground between this traditional approach and the modern GaaS one may be in order.
Why Helldivers 2’s Sequel Strategy Could Work Well for Destiny 2
According to a recent tweet from its creative director,Helldivers 2 will “grow” intoHelldivers 3over the years. How literal this statement is may be up for interpretation, but one could argue that that’s precisely what is being done with other major live-service titles. After all, something likeFortnitelooks completely different in 2024 compared to launch day, and all these cumulative changes could certainly constitute the gulf between the first and second entries in a franchise. The only things missing are the actual change in title and the new download or physical release.
So perhapsDestiny 2could blend these two strategies. At some point in the future, Bungie could roll out something like a “roadmap toDestiny 3,” implementing a number of transformative changes to the game over a certain period of time, culminating in an update thatchanges the title of the game toDestiny 3. This way, the series could have that symbolic moment of moving forward without actually disrupting its long-running in-game ecosystem.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
