Table of Contents

Why Did Bungie Get Rid of Planets in Destiny 2?

Bungie removed planets in Destiny 2 primarily to combat game bloat, improve performance, and pave the way for future content and upgrades. As Destiny 2 grew with each expansion and season, the game’s file size became unwieldy, and technical limitations hindered Bungie’s ability to efficiently update and maintain the game. This led to the controversial decision to “vault” certain destinations, effectively removing them from the game. The Destiny Content Vault (DCV) was introduced as a means to curate the Destiny 2 experience, allowing Bungie to focus on delivering higher-quality, more optimized content in the long run.

The Problem of Bloat: A Technical Explanation

The primary driver behind the planet removals was the issue of game bloat. Over time, Destiny 2 had accumulated a vast amount of content, including planets, missions, strikes, raids, and weapons. This abundance led to several problems:

Large File Size: A massive game file size made it difficult for players to download and update the game, especially for those with slower internet connections or limited storage space.
Performance Issues: The game engine struggled to efficiently process and render all the content, leading to performance problems such as stuttering, lag, and long loading times, especially on older consoles.
Development Bottlenecks: Maintaining and updating such a large amount of content required significant development resources, slowing down the creation and implementation of new features and improvements.
Limited Scalability: The game’s architecture made it challenging to introduce new content and systems without further exacerbating the performance issues and file size problems.

Bungie recognized that continuing down this path would eventually cripple the game, making it difficult to deliver a satisfying experience for players. The Destiny Content Vault was their solution to this problem.

The Destiny Content Vault (DCV): A Necessary Evil?

The Destiny Content Vault (DCV) is a repository of content that Bungie has removed from Destiny 2. While controversial, the DCV allowed Bungie to:

Reduce Game Size: By removing underutilized and technically problematic content, Bungie significantly reduced the game’s file size.
Improve Performance: Streamlining the game’s content base allowed Bungie to optimize the engine and improve performance across all platforms.
Focus Development Efforts: Removing old content freed up development resources, enabling Bungie to focus on creating higher-quality, more engaging experiences.
Enable Future Growth: The DCV provided the necessary space and flexibility to introduce new content and features without overwhelming the game’s technical infrastructure.

It’s important to note that Bungie has stated that the DCV is not a permanent solution. Content can and has been brought back from the DCV, often with significant updates and improvements. The return of the Vault of Glass raid and the Cosmodrome destination are prime examples of this.

Which Planets and Content Were Vaulted?

The initial wave of vaulting in November 2020 removed several significant destinations from Destiny 2:

Mars: Included the Warmind campaign and associated activities.
Mercury: Known for the Curse of Osiris campaign and the Infinite Forest.
Io: A destination tied to the Warmind storyline.
Titan: Famous for its oil rig platforms and the story surrounding the Hive.
Leviathan (and associated Raids): The sprawling Cabal ship and its various raid encounters.
Forsaken Campaign and the Tangled Shore: Removed with the Witch Queen expansion.

This was a substantial amount of content to lose, and it understandably upset many players who had invested time and effort into those destinations.

The Future of the DCV and Content Rotation

Bungie has since announced a shift in their approach to content vaulting. While entire expansions are no longer slated for removal, seasonal content will continue to be rotated out when a new expansion launches. This means that seasonal activities, quests, and rewards will remain available throughout the current expansion year but will eventually be retired to the DCV to make way for new content.

Bungie General Manager Justin Truman stated during the reveal for Destiny 2: Lightfall that the Bungie team has been working on the game engine in the background to make improvements.

This approach aims to strike a balance between maintaining a manageable game size and providing players with a consistent stream of fresh content. It remains to be seen how this new strategy will be implemented in the long run, but it represents a shift towards a more sustainable content model for Destiny 2.

Learning and understanding the dynamics of game design and the constraints that developers face can be a fascinating study. For more insight, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society, located at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, which offers valuable information on game development and design principles.

Destiny 2 Content Vault: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will all vaulted content eventually return?

While Bungie has brought back content from the DCV, there’s no guarantee that all vaulted content will return. Bungie prioritizes content that aligns with the current narrative and gameplay goals.

2. Why did Bungie remove the Forsaken campaign?

The Forsaken campaign and the Tangled Shore destination were removed alongside the release of the Witch Queen expansion as part of the DCV initiative.

3. Is sunsetting gear coming back?

No. Bungie ended weapon and armor sunsetting after significant player feedback. Gear acquired now will not be rendered obsolete by future updates.

4. What happens to my progress on a planet that gets vaulted?

Any progress made on a vaulted planet, such as quests or reputation levels, is typically reset when the content is removed. Bungie often provides rewards or compensation for progress lost due to vaulting.

5. What happens to gear I earned on vaulted planets?

Gear earned on vaulted planets will generally still be usable in activities that don’t take place on those planets. However, some gear may be sunsetted, meaning it cannot be infused to higher power levels and is therefore less effective in high-level activities.

6. Why not just improve the game engine instead of vaulting content?

Bungie has been continuously working on improving the game engine. However, these improvements take time, and vaulting content provided an immediate solution to the problems of game bloat and performance issues. Engine improvements also enable them to reintroduce content from the DCV with enhancements.

7. Does vaulting content mean Bungie is lazy or doesn’t care about the game?

Vaulting content is a complex decision made to address technical challenges and ensure the long-term health of the game. It doesn’t necessarily indicate laziness or a lack of care but rather a strategic approach to managing a live-service game.

8. Will Destiny 3 have similar issues with content bloat?

It’s difficult to say definitively, but Bungie will likely apply the lessons learned from Destiny 2 to the design and development of any future Destiny games. This may involve more careful planning of content rotation and improved engine scalability.

9. Is there any way to access the vaulted content?

No, vaulted content is not accessible through normal gameplay.

10. Does vaulting affect the story of Destiny 2?

Yes, vaulting content can affect the overall narrative of Destiny 2. Bungie often provides summaries or lore updates to explain the events that occurred on vaulted planets.

11. How does the DCV affect new players?

The DCV can make it difficult for new players to experience the entire history of Destiny 2. However, Bungie often provides curated story experiences and introductory quests to help new players get up to speed.

12. Is Bungie planning on vaulting any more destinations or expansions?

Bungie has stated that entire expansions from Shadowkeep onward will remain accessible. However, seasonal content will continue to be rotated out when new expansions launch.

13. What factors does Bungie consider when deciding what content to vault?

Bungie considers several factors, including player engagement, technical performance, story relevance, and development resources.

14. Can I get a refund for content that has been vaulted?

Bungie does not typically offer refunds for content that has been vaulted, as players have already had access to it for a period of time.

15. How can I provide feedback to Bungie about the DCV?

Players can provide feedback to Bungie through various channels, including the official Destiny 2 forums, social media, and in-game surveys. Bungie actively monitors these channels and takes player feedback into consideration when making decisions about the game.

Why did Bungie get rid of planets?