Why is the Beginning of Destiny 2 Different?
The beginning of Destiny 2 is different now primarily due to a strategic decision by Bungie to streamline the new player experience, reduce overall game size, and adapt to the evolving nature of a live-service game. With the release of New Light in October 2019, a free-to-play version of Destiny 2, the introductory mission from the original Destiny was reintroduced. This change served to offer a simplified and more focused onboarding process for newcomers, replacing the original Destiny 2 Red War campaign start. The core reasons behind this shift are multifaceted and relate to the game’s overall health and player engagement.
Reducing Bloat and Improving Performance
Destiny 2, being a massive online shooter, has constantly grown over the years with new expansions, locations, and features. This growth inevitably led to game bloat, impacting performance, download sizes, and overall maintainability. Vaulting older content, including the initial Red War campaign, and replacing it with the Cosmodrome intro from Destiny 1 was a practical solution. It allowed Bungie to remove outdated assets, optimize the game engine, and improve the overall performance, especially on lower-end systems. This approach also helped maintain a manageable download size, critical for attracting new players in the free-to-play model.
Streamlining the New Player Experience
The original Destiny 2 Red War campaign, while narratively significant, could be overwhelming for new players. Its length and complexity, coupled with a plethora of interwoven systems, made it challenging to grasp the core mechanics and lore quickly. The introductory mission from Destiny 1, set in the Cosmodrome, provides a much more focused and digestible introduction to the world, gunplay, and fundamental gameplay loop. It’s a gentler learning curve that avoids overwhelming new Guardians with too much information upfront. This change aimed to increase player retention by providing a more accessible entry point.
Adapting to the Live Service Model
Destiny 2 operates as a live service game, constantly evolving with seasonal content, expansions, and ongoing updates. As the game moved away from a static narrative structure, the initial Red War campaign became less relevant to the overall storyline. The Cosmodrome intro offers a more timeless and universal starting point, setting the stage for the broader Destiny universe without being tied to a specific, now-vaulted narrative. This allowed Bungie to focus their resources on creating and delivering new, relevant content that drives player engagement.
Capitalizing on Nostalgia
Reintroducing elements from the original Destiny also served as a nostalgic call back to the roots of the franchise. Many players, especially those who had played Destiny 1, welcomed the return of familiar locations and missions. This sentimental appeal helped create a positive first impression and encourage veterans to introduce the game to their friends, expanding the Destiny 2 community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What exactly does “vaulting” content mean in Destiny 2?
Vaulting refers to the process where Bungie removes older content from Destiny 2, making it inaccessible to players. This includes entire campaigns, destinations, and activities. The purpose is to reduce game size, improve performance, and focus development efforts on current content.
Can I still play the original Destiny 2 Red War campaign?
Unfortunately, no. The Red War campaign, along with the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions, has been vaulted and is currently inaccessible. Bungie has stated that there are no immediate plans to reintroduce these campaigns, although they haven’t ruled it out entirely for the future.
Why did Bungie remove the Red War campaign from Destiny 2?
The primary reasons were to reduce game size, improve performance, and streamline the new player experience. The Red War campaign had become outdated and contributed to the overall bloat of the game. Bungie also wanted to direct resources to developing and maintaining current and future content.
What is the “New Light” version of Destiny 2?
New Light is the free-to-play version of Destiny 2. It provides access to a selection of core activities, including strikes, Crucible, Gambit, and certain destinations. The New Light experience also includes the revamped introductory mission set in the Cosmodrome.
What happens after the Cosmodrome introductory mission?
After completing the Cosmodrome mission, new players are directed to the Tower, the main social hub in Destiny 2. From there, they can access various activities, explore different destinations, and begin pursuing quests and storylines based on the available free content or purchased expansions. The Games Learning Society explores how game design affects player engagement and learning.
Is Destiny 2’s current starting point better than the original Red War campaign?
That depends on individual preference. The Cosmodrome intro is simpler and more focused, providing a gentler introduction to the game. The Red War campaign offered a more extensive narrative experience but could be overwhelming for new players. Ultimately, the current starting point is designed for accessibility and ease of onboarding.
Has the start of Destiny 2 changed more than once?
Yes. The game began with the Red War campaign, then transitioned to the Cosmodrome with the release of New Light. This change reflects Bungie’s ongoing efforts to refine the new player experience and adapt to the evolving needs of the game.
Can you skip the story in Destiny 2?
The introductory mission in the Cosmodrome is mandatory for new characters. However, once you have completed a campaign (such as Lightfall) on one character, you often have the option to pay a fee and skip the campaign on your other characters, allowing them to gain access to related abilities and activities more quickly.
Will the vaulted Destiny 2 content ever return?
Bungie has stated that they are not ruling out the possibility of reintroducing vaulted content in the future. However, there are currently no specific plans to bring back the Red War campaign or the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions.
Is it necessary to play Destiny 1 before Destiny 2?
No, it is not necessary. Destiny 2 is designed to be accessible to new players, even if they haven’t played Destiny 1. While understanding the lore and characters from Destiny 1 can enhance the experience, it is not essential for enjoying Destiny 2.
Is Destiny 1 still playable?
Yes, the original Destiny is still playable on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. While it no longer receives updates or new content, the core game and its expansions, including The Taken King, remain accessible.
Will there be a Destiny 3?
Rumors abound regarding a Destiny 3, but no official announcements have been made by Bungie. They are currently focused on supporting and expanding Destiny 2, with the upcoming The Final Shape expansion concluding the current Light and Darkness saga.
What is the Destiny Content Vault (DCV)?
The Destiny Content Vault (DCV) is the repository where vaulted content is stored. This content can potentially be reintroduced into the game in the future, although there are no guarantees. The DCV allows Bungie to manage game size and performance without permanently deleting assets.
Is Destiny 2 a good game for new players in 2023?
Yes, Destiny 2 remains a popular and engaging game for new players in 2023. With the free-to-play New Light version, it offers a readily accessible entry point to the Destiny universe. While the game has a complex ecosystem of content and systems, the streamlined new player experience and ongoing updates make it worth exploring.
Where can I learn more about the design of Destiny 2 and similar games?
Organizations like GamesLearningSociety.org study and share insights into how games are designed and how these designs impact learning and player experiences. This can offer valuable insights into why developers make certain choices in game design, like the changes made to the start of Destiny 2.