Free-to-play on-line MMO looter shooter Future 2, launched in 2017, is certainly one of my favourite video video games. I play it on a regular basis. I’ve a number of characters. I personal all of the latest seasons. It’s improbable. However I’d be mendacity if I stated I wasn’t involved for the sport’s future, as with every passing season, it appears to turn into extra vulnerable to breaking. The truth is, as I write this very paragraph at round 4:00 p.m. on January 24, the sport stays offline as Bungie continues to analyze the newest downside. In the meantime, many gamers are hoping for a brand-new engine and recreation, doubtless within the type of Future 3. However issues are by no means that easy.
Earlier as we speak, Destiny 2 was taken offline across all platforms as Bungie investigated gamers dropping progress on triumphs and seals, which function like in-game achievements and challenges. It’s not the top of the world, positive, however simply final week a couple of gamers reported dropping their characters together with all their progress and gadgets. And earlier than that, it was a new mission not updating properly for players. And earlier than that it was one thing else. In 2023, after years of updates, expansions, and extra, it seems like Destiny 2 is starting to buckle under its own weight.
Taking a peek at Bungie’s official support account on Twitter—which frequently updates regularly to let gamers learn about upcoming patches, server points, and different important data about Future 2—you could find lots of tweets that quantity to Bungie going “Welp, this isn’t working. We try to repair it. Extra data later.” On-line video games not working each day isn’t new and it’s not an issue unique to Future 2. However is beginning to turn into a extra prevalent problem with the ageing shooter. Taking a look at that assist account, lots of the tweets about bugs or damaged missions don’t have weeks between them, however only a few days or much less.
Anecdotally, my time enjoying Future 2 recently has been buggier than ever. This new season introduced with it each cool new heist missions and peculiar lag that I’ve by no means seen earlier than. I nonetheless run into the issue of the sport not counting each PvP match, making us play extra to complete challenges and weekly quests. And I’ve simply accepted that in-game bounties tied to kills, missions, or different actions received’t all the time replace as they need to. The truth is, the extra I give it some thought, the extra I notice that I and different gamers I do know have simply gotten used to Future 2 not being dependable. And it appears to be getting worse, not higher, as the sport expands and provides extra layers and techniques.
G/O Media could get a fee
Formally-licensed socks
Sock Affairs needs you to enrobe your toes of their formally licensed socks with artwork from Pink Floyd and AC/DC data.
Look on-line and also you’ll shortly see gamers suggesting that Bungie wants to maneuver on to a theoretical Future 3, a recreation that doubtless will occur—and is possibly in growth already—however which hasn’t been confirmed. Throughout as we speak’s prolonged downtime, Destiny 3 was trending on Twitter as gamers argued over the shooter’s future and stability. For some, the idea of a new engine and recent slate felt promising, giving hope it could clear up lots of Future 2’s issues. Others pointed out that a brand-new recreation isn’t straightforward to make or easy to launch, and would doubtless be lacking options or content material at launch. Plus, there’s no guarantee it could repair the entire rising issues.
Personally, I feel a brand new Future would doubtless be a great transfer to ultimately make. It might permit the devs to make one thing extra versatile and capable of deal with the kind of occasions they’ve spent years crafting and perfecting. However I additionally am not naive sufficient to imagine it could repair every little thing or be straightforward to create. Nonetheless, I get the frustration gamers are feeling as Future 2 stays constantly inconsistent.
Like an previous PC or blender, Future 2 largely works, but it surely’s lined in duct tape, dents, and dust. And sometimes you must kick it or mess with the twine to get it to begin. Certain, it nonetheless rumbles to life for now, however you’ll most likely want to switch it someday. And with Future 2, I get the sensation Bungie will likely be slapping on the tape for so long as it takes for Future 2 to outlive via the top of its deliberate roadmap, which is able to doubtless see the ultimate season arriving in 2024. Previous that, properly, I don’t know. Hopefully by then, the sport will not less than really feel extra secure and dependable, not worse.
