Free-to-play on-line MMO looter shooter Future 2, launched in 2017, is one in every of my favourite video video games. I play it on a regular basis. I’ve a number of characters. I personal all of the current seasons. It’s incredible. However I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I wasn’t involved for the sport’s future, as with every passing season, it appears to grow to be extra susceptible 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 most recent drawback. 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 straightforward.
Earlier at this time, Destiny 2 was taken offline across all platforms as Bungie investigated gamers shedding 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 shedding 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 looks 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 continuously to let gamers learn about upcoming patches, server points, and different important information about Future 2—yow will discover lots of tweets that quantity to Bungie going “Welp, this isn’t working. We try to repair it. Extra information later.” On-line video games not working day-after-day isn’t new and it’s not an issue unique to Future 2. However is beginning to grow to be a extra prevalent concern with the getting old shooter. 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 taking part in Future 2 currently has been buggier than ever. This new season introduced with it each cool new heist missions and bizarre 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 gained’t at all times replace as they need to. The truth is, the extra I give it some thought, the extra I understand 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 programs.
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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 at this time’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 contemporary slate felt promising, giving hope it will clear up a lot of Future 2’s issues. Others pointed out that a brand-new recreation isn’t simple to make or easy to launch, and would doubtless be lacking options or content material at launch. Plus, there’s no guarantee it will repair all the rising issues.
Personally, I believe a brand new Future would doubtless be a great transfer to ultimately make. It may 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 will repair every part or be simple to create. Nonetheless, I get the frustration gamers are feeling as Future 2 stays constantly inconsistent.
Like an previous PC or blender, Future 2 principally works, however it’s coated in duct tape, dents, and grime. And now and again you need to kick it or mess with the twine to get it to start out. Certain, it nonetheless rumbles to life for now, however you’ll in all probability want to interchange it in the future. And with Future 2, I get the sensation Bungie shall be slapping on the tape for so long as it takes for Future 2 to outlive by way of the top of its deliberate roadmap, which is able to doubtless see the ultimate season arriving in 2024. Previous that, nicely, I don’t know. Hopefully by then, the sport will not less than really feel extra secure and dependable, not worse.