Category: Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is currently embroiled in its most significant controversy regarding endgame activities, as Bungie investigates accusations of cheating during the Contest mode raid race for The Desert Perpetual. Players were first able to explore The Desert Perpetual on July 19 at 10:00 a.m. PDT when the World First race commenced. This raid, part of the expansion Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, follows Bungie’s tradition of unveiling new content alongside a raid and World First competition within the first week of a new expansion.

After completing the initial encounter in the Desert Perpetual raid, players learned that the raid structure is nonlinear. They can engage with various spheres in the hub area, granting access to three distinct boss encounters that can be tackled in any order. Contest Mode, which officiated the race for the first 48 hours post-launch, rewarded players completing the raid during this time with a unique emblem and additional rewards.

Unfortunately, the well-known cheating issue in Destiny 2 has resurfaced. On July 25, Bungie’s official Twitter account acknowledged the cheating allegations concerning fireteams that completed The Desert Perpetual during Contest mode. They stressed that violating the game’s Code of Conduct to cheat is a bannable offense.

Players who unknowingly benefited from teaming with cheaters also face potential repercussions, including bans. This announcement generated controversy within the community, leading many to reevaluate their raid clear status and leaderboard positions. For instance, one player, T1Khan_, reported a significant jump in their leaderboard ranking, suggesting possible cheater involvement among multiple teams.

This scandal has raised questions about the effectiveness of Battleye as an anti-cheat solution, particularly since The Desert Perpetual has seen considerable cheating issues. Some players estimate that approximately 400 out of 600 Contest mode clears involve cheating. The outcry has led to demands for stricter penalties on cheaters to ensure future raid races remain fair.

Cheating has plagued Destiny 2’s PvP in recent years, and coupled with the lackluster launch of Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, this cheating issue casts a shadow over the game’s immediate future.

Players of Destiny 2 have recently encountered an issue with ability regeneration, coinciding with the introduction of the newest expansion, Edge of Fate. This expansion ushers in a new chapter, taking players to the planet Kepler, characterized by its rocky surface, yellow webs, temporal distortions, and hidden secrets. A new activity, The Sieve, has players battling against the Vex and the House of Exile, who are eager to unveil the mysteries of this intriguing planet. The expansion also brings exciting new gameplay mechanics, including unique abilities known as Destinations, which enable players to transform into a ball of energy, along with updated gear options for their Guardians.

However, amidst the fresh content lay complications affecting the gaming experience within the community. One notable player creatively designed an impressive Iron Man-themed outfit, showcasing the new armor ornaments available through Eververse. Meanwhile, the official Destiny 2 development team acknowledged on Twitter that they are investigating issues with energy recharging at incorrect rates. Currently, energy becomes available at a stat mark of 85, but Bungie indicated that a stat of 70 should suffice, similar to the pre-expansion values.

Players can expect a fix in an upcoming update to rectify this issue, allowing access to the regeneration feature starting from a stat mark of 70. Additionally, players have voiced their frustration regarding the energy problem surfacing just after the release of the new raid, Desert Perpetual. This raid was launched in Contest mode, a competitive environment designed for all players. Other notable bugs include mismatched power generation, mission relaunch failures, and audio issues on PlayStation 5, along with game crashes for PlayStation 4 users.

Bungie is addressing these errors and plans to implement fixes shortly. In the rich universe of Destiny 2, players can explore the solar system, harness elemental abilities, and curate their Guardian’s appearance and playstyle. With a cinematic storyline and engaging co-op missions, the game promises an immersive experience. Guardians can choose from the armored Titan, mystical Warlock, or swift Hunter classes to embark on their journeys and define their legacy.

The launch of “The Desert Perpetual” raid in Destiny 2 has marked a significant shift in the gaming experience, as it introduces the franchise’s first nonlinear raid structure. Traditionally, Destiny raids feature a set sequence of encounters and boss battles.

However, with the earlier “The Edge of Fate” released on July 15, Guardians were already given a taste of change, setting the stage for this new raid format. Set on Kepler, a newly introduced destination at the edge of the solar system, “The Edge of Fate” also brings new mysteries, notably surrounding a character named Lodi and the enigmatic Nine.

With the expansion, players can explore new activities, unlock legendary gear, and gather Exotics. Continuing a long-standing Bungie tradition, the raid and World First race commenced within the first week of the expansion’s launch.

The World First race for “The Desert Perpetual” kicked off on July 19 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Shortly into the competition, players shared their findings on Reddit, realizing the raid’s nonlinear approach after completing the first encounter named Predestination.

Afterward, players can select from various encounters in a hub area, activated by spheres, and engage with bosses Iatros, Agraios, and Epoptes in any order they choose. As the gameplay unfold, many fireteams have opted to confront the Iatros boss first, resulting in the emergence of guides and tips shared online.

While defeating these three bosses likely leads to a final raid encounter, the World First race remains active, and players are experimenting with optimal strategies and gear for this raid. Bungie’s willingness to innovate indicates potential future enhancements within Destiny 2, as the choice of encounter selection offers players more flexibility and versatility in their raid experiences.

This could ultimately allow them to optimize their gameplay, returning to specific encounters to farm desired gear efficiently.

Destiny 2, following the launch of its latest major expansion, is witnessing a noticeable decline in its player count, particularly among PC users. This month, the active player numbers are significantly lower compared to the launch of the previous expansion, The Final Shape, which debuted in June last year.

Throughout its decade-long existence, the Destiny series has experienced numerous fluctuations in player engagement, but many Guardians may have chosen to conclude their journeys with Destiny 2 after the conclusion of the Light and Darkness Saga in The Final Shape. Despite the declining player base, Bungie is not finished with Destiny 2.

The studio has ambitious plans as the latest expansion, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, ushers in a new chapter known as the Fate Saga. This expansion is the first of two expected releases this year, with a second expansion themed distinctly around Star Wars set to arrive on December 2.

Bungie is also revamping many of Destiny 2’s fundamental mechanics with the Edge of Fate expansion, affecting everything from the activity director to armor and character stats. The Edge of Fate centers on a fresh narrative involving the Nine and introduces a new location called Kepler.

However, statistics from Steam Charts indicate that there are far fewer Guardians to explore this expansion. On launch day, the peak player count on Steam was just 99,131, which is less than a third of the peak achieved during The Final Shape’s release, marking a concerning trend for the franchise.

It’s essential to note that these statistics pertain solely to Destiny 2’s Steam player base, but they likely mirror diminishing popularity across other platforms. Last year, around this time, player morale was notably higher, driven by the promise of a thrilling conclusion to Destiny 2’s narrative.

Today, the game’s decline can be attributed to players feeling dissatisfied for their investment of time, alongside a complex UI that tends to alienate newcomers. As the year progresses, it remains uncertain how Destiny 2 will navigate its lower player count.

Bungie has outlined several crucial fixes for Destiny 2 in the week following the launch of its latest expansion, The Edge of Fate, which was released on July 15. The company is addressing various player-reported issues, including bugs that hinder progression in the campaign. Some of these fixes are expected as early as July 18. The Edge of Fate introduces players to Kepler, a new destination in the solar system, marking the beginning of a multi-year Fate saga.

This expansion presents a new narrative involving the mysterious Nine, a character named Lodi, and Orin the Lost, who fans previously recognized as the Emissary of the Nine. Alongside these narrative elements, players also gain access to new activities, legendary loot, and Exotics, typical of Destiny 2 expansions. However, many have reported bugs that impede their campaign advancement. As of July 17, Bungie’s official Twitter account acknowledged ongoing issues and the team’s commitment to investigating player reports.

Several fixes are planned over the next week and a half, with a hotfix set to be released by July 19. This hotfix will address blocking issues for players’ secondary characters, bugs that wipe Unstable Cores upon creating alternate characters, and crashes specifically affecting Xbox users. Upcoming fixes include those scheduled for hotfix 9.0.0.3 on July 22. These will resolve ammo gain issues on certain grenade launchers and improve performance in the Kepler area, among other adjustments.

A second hotfix, 9.0.0.4, is anticipated on July 29, aiming to tackle motion sickness and visual glitches, as well as the malfunctioning Tangled Web perk. Bungie is also aware of high-priority issues still under investigation, such as audio problems on PlayStation 5 and crashes on PlayStation 4 when entering the Tower. These updates demonstrate Bungie’s responsiveness to player feedback and their commitment to enhancing the Destiny 2 experience.

Destiny 2’s latest expansion, The Edge of Fate, has just launched, and already, players are hearing changes in the game’s dialogue. The developers at Bungie have announced their intention to re-record certain character lines in response to feedback from the community. Fans who found something peculiar about the voices will be pleased to know that original voice actors are set to reprise their roles. As the game embarks on The Fate Saga, Bungie has outlined plans for the expansion and updates through late 2026.

This period is an exciting time for the game’s community, especially as they delve into the new content. However, some players have noticed inconsistencies in the voices that have raised concerns about the quality of the dialogue in The Edge of Fate. Previously, in May, Bungie explained that the voice talents for key characters such as Ikora, Orin, and Chioma were unavailable, prompting the recruitment of temporary voice actors. Thankfully, the situation has now changed; the “conflict” which prevented the original voice actors from returning has been resolved.

While Bungie has not provided a specific timeline for when the original voice lines will return, it has confirmed they will be included in a future update. The unavailability of the original voice actors may have been related to the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, which concluded shortly before the announcement about the re-recording. This strike focused on improving protections and compensation for voice actors and performance capture artists, with union actors advocating for change for nearly a year. In the interim, players have encountered some silence from the affected characters and have seen subtitles in various languages, as the French and Spanish versions currently utilize the English audio.

Despite the initial surprises regarding voice changes, players are reportedly welcoming Bungie’s decision to restore the original voices in the game.

Recent leaks suggest that Destiny 2 may introduce some exciting and unconventional armor cosmetics, along with other new items, for the upcoming Solstice 2025 limited-time event. The Solstice is an annual summer event in Destiny 2, showcasing fresh limited-time activities and enticing rewards for players. Given that over a decade has passed since the original Destiny was released, and nearly eight years since Destiny 2 made its debut, long-time players have become accustomed to a consistent schedule of events and updates.

Despite the recent launch of the Edge of Fate expansion, which promises significant changes to various gameplay elements, players can still look forward to regularly scheduled events that provide opportunities to collect loot and rewards. The yearly Solstice event often features some of the most sought-after cosmetic armor and weapon drops, making it a highlight for many in the community. According to the latest leaks, the Solstice 2025 event may treat fans to some truly whimsical options.

A Reddit user shared what appears to be a promotional banner, revealing new sets of cosmetic armor available for players to earn or purchase during the event. The free set looks like a revamped version of the Solstice armor from 2019, offering upgrades that provide players with a glowing effect. On the other hand, the premium armor set from the Eververse store embraces a playful beach theme, dressing Guardians in swimwear and related accessories.

The leaked designs include an array of armor styles, featuring everything from sun hats and sunglasses for Warlocks to a shark-themed towel cloak for Hunters. Among the Titan sets, Hawaiian shirt patterns and inflatable pool toys delight. Even weapons come with aquatic-themed skins, making the overall aesthetic both humorous and lighthearted.

Overall, fan reactions to these leaks have been positive, with many expressing excitement at the return of the beloved 2019 Solstice gear. Players who missed out on the original event will have a chance to obtain these nostalgic designs, and there’s a buzz about potentially future designs that push the boundaries of the usual Destiny aesthetic.

Robbie Stevens, the Assistant Game Director for Destiny 2 at Bungie, has expressed the company’s aim to make the game more accessible for newcomers. This is a delicate challenge for live service games, as they must attract fresh players while keeping the experience engaging for long-time fans.

Bungie seems to acknowledge past missteps in this regard and is actively working to improve their strategies. Since its launch in 2017, Destiny 2 has maintained a steady level of relevance, despite occasional dips in player counts.

However, certain mechanics, particularly the build-crafting system, have presented challenges for players, leading to confusion. To assist those struggling to find their place within the game, Bungie is focusing on lowering the barriers for entry.

In conjunction with the Edge of Fate reveal, Bungie announced a year of expansive content for Destiny 2, including updates and expansions. In an interview with YouTuber MrRoflWaffles, Stevens spoke about enhancing the new player experience.

He emphasized the need for a “more curated experience” during the early stages of the game while retaining its depth. This includes simplifying certain basic shooter mechanics to allow players the time to grasp more complex game-specific systems.

The introduction of Explorer Mode was a step in this direction, helping new players understand dungeons. Stevens underlined that making Destiny 2 more welcoming is a continuous objective for Bungie.

Future content updates may not introduce additional modes like Explorer, but the focus on accessibility will persist beyond the upcoming Renegades expansion set for December 2025. Additionally, the Edge of Fate expansion promises one of the “most significant systemic overhauls” for Destiny 2, introducing major changes to melee damage, armor, and Glaives.

With ongoing content updates, players can expect numerous adjustments throughout the year. Dive into Destiny 2 to unravel the solar system’s mysteries and experience engaging first-person shooter gameplay.

As a Guardian, you’ll defend the Last City and choose between classes like the Titan, Warlock, or Hunter, each offering unique abilities and playstyles. Your legend awaits in the stars.

Bungie has recently unveiled the mechanics behind the new exotic armor set to debut in Destiny 2’s upcoming expansion, Edge of Fate, which is set to launch on July 15. While some exotic armors have already been teased, this marks the first occasion where Bungie has detailed their functionality. In a recent developer livestream held on June 24, Bungie provided insights into the Armor 3.0 feature and the substantial transformations that various exotic armors will undergo in the Edge of Fate expansion. Each new piece was spotlighted, with the first being Eunoia, a solar gauntlet for Warlocks that enhances the Hellion class ability.

This gauntlet enables Hellion mortars to fragment into enemy-tracking projectiles on impact. Additionally, Hunters will gain access to the Moirai chest, which permits the use of a Threaded Spike melee attack. This ability triggers a detonation of a Tangle, allowing players to efficiently reclaim it. Titans can anticipate the Melas Panoplia, another solar gauntlet, empowering them to transform their Throwing Hammer into a boomerang.

If executed perfectly, this move not only returns the weapon to the player but also triggers an explosion, extending the active duration of the Forge Master. However, the new exotic armor has raised concerns among certain fans. While these features introduce exciting dynamics, players worry that potential nerfs to melee capabilities may diminish overall damage output. Bungie has signaled upcoming changes to the damage system, which could significantly influence melee attack effectiveness.

Thus, anxious players have valid reasons to be cautious about how these adjustments will alter game balance. At this stage, only a select group of players have had early access to Edge of Fate, and whether these concerns will be validated remains to be seen as the release date approaches.