The Great Destiny 2 Purge: What Was Removed and Why?
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Destiny 2, Bungie’s sprawling shared-world shooter, has undergone significant transformations since its launch. While the game has evolved with new content, a substantial amount has also been removed and placed into the Destiny Content Vault (DCV). This included entire campaigns like The Red War, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind, as well as destinations such as Mars, Titan, Io, Mercury, and the Tangled Shore. The primary reason cited by Bungie for these removals was to reduce the game’s overall size and technical debt, allowing them to continue developing and maintaining Destiny 2 effectively.
The Rationale Behind the Vaulting
The sheer volume of content in Destiny 2 created a technical quagmire. Every new addition compounded existing issues, making updates more cumbersome and increasing the likelihood of bugs. By vaulting older content, Bungie aimed to streamline the game’s development process, improve performance, and create space for future expansions.
The decision, while technically understandable, was met with considerable controversy from the player base. Players who had paid for the removed content felt cheated, and new players missed out on experiencing the game’s early story arcs. Bungie has since altered its approach, promising that expansions will no longer be vaulted. However, seasonal content still cycles out at the end of each expansion year.
A Breakdown of Vaulted Content
To fully understand the scale of the DCV, let’s break down the specific content that has been removed:
- The Red War Campaign: Destiny 2’s original campaign, which introduced players to the world and the initial conflict with the Red Legion.
- Curse of Osiris and Warmind Expansions: These early expansions added new story content, destinations, and activities focused on Osiris and Rasputin, respectively.
- Forsaken Campaign (and the Tangled Shore): Introduced the thrilling story of revenge and loss after Cayde-6.
- Year 2 Annual Pass Content: While Gambit Prime remains, much of the associated content and activities from the Annual Pass seasons (Black Armory, Joker’s Wild, and Opulence) are gone.
- Planetary Destinations: Mars, Titan, Io, and Mercury were removed entirely, along with all associated activities, vendors, and loot. The Tangled Shore was also vaulted along with the Forsaken campaign.
- Raids: Several raids, including Leviathan, Eater of Worlds, Spire of Stars, Scourge of the Past, and Crown of Sorrow, have been removed from the game.
- Strikes and Crucible Maps: A significant number of strikes and Crucible maps were also vaulted to reduce the game’s footprint.
The Ongoing Impact
The removal of content has fundamentally altered the new player experience in Destiny 2. The initial story arc is now vastly different, and some players may find it challenging to understand the game’s lore and history without access to the vaulted campaigns.
While Bungie has stated that it may bring back some vaulted content in the future, there are no guarantees. In the meantime, players must rely on summaries and lore videos to fill in the gaps.
Shifting Strategy
The strategy now shifts to Seasonal content rotating yearly, along with only expansions becoming permanent once released. This means players can expect to play through all DLCs without them ever being vaulted after buying them.
Destiny 2 Vaulting: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did Bungie remove content from Destiny 2?
Bungie removed content to reduce the game’s size, improve performance, and streamline development. The technical debt associated with maintaining a constantly growing game became unsustainable.
2. What is the Destiny Content Vault (DCV)?
The DCV is a repository for content that Bungie has removed from Destiny 2. This content may be reintroduced into the game at a later date, but there are no guarantees.
3. Will vaulted content ever return to Destiny 2?
Bungie has stated that it may bring back some vaulted content, but there are no specific plans or timelines.
4. Does Destiny 2 still remove content?
Yes, but the approach has changed. Expansions will no longer be vaulted, but seasonal content will continue to rotate out at the end of each expansion year.
5. What happens to items and gear from vaulted content?
Some items and gear associated with vaulted content may be deprecated or made unobtainable. Others may be reissued with new sources.
6. Is Destiny 2 unplayable without DLC?
No, Destiny 2 is not unplayable without DLC. There is a free-to-play portion of the game that provides access to certain activities and destinations. However, purchasing DLC expands the available content and unlocks additional features.
7. Why was the Red War campaign removed?
The Red War campaign was removed as part of the effort to reduce the game’s size and streamline the new player experience.
8. Was the Forsaken campaign removed from Destiny 2?
Yes, the Forsaken campaign and the Tangled Shore destination were removed with the release of The Witch Queen. The Dreaming City and the Last Wish raid remain accessible.
9. How much of Destiny 2 has been removed?
Roughly half of the game’s content from its first three years was removed and placed into the Destiny Content Vault.
10. Will Destiny 3 ever be released?
Bungie has stated that Destiny 3 is not currently in development. Their focus is on continually supporting and expanding Destiny 2.
11. Where can I learn more about Destiny 2 lore and history?
There are many online resources available, including wikis, lore videos, and community forums.
12. Are there any plans to vault Shadowkeep?
No. Expansions from Shadowkeep onward will remain accessible.
13. What happens to players who purchased content that was vaulted?
This is a complex issue. Bungie faced considerable criticism for removing content that players had paid for. In the long run, Bungie is hoping that reinvesting resources into the expansions will provide more content in a more efficient way.
14. Is it too late to get into Destiny 2?
No! Destiny 2 can be intimidating to jump into but with the expansions being available, it is not too late. Destiny 2 is designed to be accessible to new players, though it may take some time to learn the intricacies of the game. The online community can be a great way to pick up tips and help you navigate the game.
15. How does this affect Games and Learning?
The complexities surrounding Destiny 2’s content vault and evolving world provide a compelling case study for game design and learning. The Games Learning Society, at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, explores how game mechanics influence player engagement, knowledge retention, and the overall learning experience. For example, they discuss the narrative design as part of the game learning experience. The changing landscape of Destiny 2 highlights the importance of considering long-term content accessibility and the impact on player investment and understanding.